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From  the  collection  of 
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UBPARY 
OF  THE 

UMlVERSiTY  OF  ILiiHOlS 


FiftH  Edition 
13,000 

..How  to  Win.. 


OR 

Sure  Secrets 
<»  Success — 


BY 

PROFESSOR  L.  H.  ANDERSON. 


Arranged  particularly  for  the  use  of  the  students  of  the 
Chicago  College  of  PyschO“Tl>erapeutics  and  National 
Institute  of  Science 

Our  wonderful  success  in  healing  and  the  well  known 
character  of  our  students  and  patrons  has  established 
our  reputation.  Our  methods  have  received  the  un- 
qualified endorsement  of  the  best  thinkers  and  the  most 
experienced  physicians  the  world  over 

The  truths  contained  in  this  book  will  not  teach  you  all 
you  wish  to  know  about  Personal  Magnetism,  but  they 
will  prepare  you  to  receive  and  profit  by  our  instruction. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  NATIONAL  INSTITUTE, 


MASONIC  TEMPLE, 

CHICAGO. 


1896 


according  to  Act  of  Gon^ress  in  the 
J836  by  Prof . L.H.^IMerson'^ica^o  JJl 
ii\  Ihe  office  of  the  Librarian  of  (son^resa , at 
Washington.  0,6.  Afl  Rights  Reserved. 


fto  the  Author 
x3\^f / « Pi/htisheTy  phi 


llmeof/m  this  tloml^rA\ 


INTRODUCTION. 


<to«o*o«‘ 

fHE  author  of  this  work  is  perfectly  aware  that  many 
of  the  facts  in  the  following  pages  must  appear 
exceedingly  startling  to  such  of  his  readers  as  may 
come  to  the  perusal  of  these  facts  without  any  previous 
preparation.  But  he  would  entreat  all  such  persons,  other- 
wise competent  to  the  investigation,  to  lay  aside  all 
prejudices,  and  weigh  the  evidence,  with  calmness,  candor, 
and  impartiality. 

The  superstitious  man  is  unable,  or  afraid,  to  exercise 
his  reasoning  faculties.  He  is  unwilling  to  inquire,  or 
incapable  of  directing  his  intellectual  and  moral  faculties 
towards  the  impartial  investigation  of  truth.  He  is 
perfectly  satisfied  with  the  first  partial  convictions  which 
his  indisciplined  mind  has  once  led,  however  incautiously, 
to  embrace,  and  obstinately  indisposed  to  suffer  them  to  be 
disturbed  or  modified  by  any  other,  even  more  matured 
views. 

‘‘  The  man  who  dares  to  think  for  himself  and  act  in- 
dependently, does  a service  to  his  race,”  says  one  of  the 
brightest  modern  thinkers,  and  daily  experience  shows  that 
it  is  energetic  individualism  which  produces  the  most 
powerful  effects  upon  the  life  and  action  of  others,  and 
really  constitutes  the  best  practical  education.  Schools, 
academies  and  colleges  give  but  the  merest  beginnings  of 
culture  in  comparison  with  it. 

iii 


What  are  the  means  by  which  my  mental  faculties 
may  be  best  developed  and  strengthened?  What  is  the 
most  successful  mode  of  study?  How  much,  and  when, 
and  how?  How  shall  I learn  the  principles  of  politeness, 
of  personal  accomplishment — of  rendering  myself  agreeable? 
What  are  the  errors  into  which  I am  most  liable  to  fall? 
what  the  habits  I should  seek  to  avoid? 

These  are  questions  that  come  home  to  everyone,  but 
on  which  instruction  has  been  greatly  neglected.  With  no 
word  of  counsel  in  his  whole  course  of  instruction,  the 
youth  is  expected  to  develop  for  himself  mental  success 
and  social  excellence. 

To  present  the  leading  principles  of  mental  and  social 
culture,  is  the  object  of  this  work,  a part  of  which  is 
abridged  from  Dr.  Watts’  inestimable  “Improvement  of  the 
Mind.”  Many  of  the  maxims  and  rules  of  conversation  and 
politeness  are  from  Chesterfield’s  “ Letters  to  his  Son.”  A few 
paragraphs  have  been  taken  from  other  standard  authors. 
For  the  remainder  of  the  work, as  well  as  for  its  general 
arrangement.  Prof.  L.  H.  Anderson,  principal  of  the 
National  Hygienic  Institute,  Chicago,  is  responsible. 

Every  day  witnesses  the  triumph  of  Personal  Magnet- 
ism, and  men  of  great  intellect  are  constantly  being  forced 
to  acknowledge,  with  surprise,  the  success  of  persons  whose 
abilities,  in  comparison  with  their  own,  have  been  incon- 
siderable. These  men  know  precisely  the  scope  of  their 
faculties,  and  never  wander  beyond  them.  They  wait 
patiently  for  opportunities  which  are  the  kind  they  can 
improve,  and  they  never  let  one  pass  unimproved.  Being 
unnoticed,  they  excite  so  much  the  less  opposition,  and  at 
last  they  surprise  the  world  by  the  attainment  of  an  object 
which  others  deem  as  far  away  from  their  ambition  as  it 
seemed  beyond  their  reach. 


iv 


While  it  is  impossible  in  a world  made  up  of  widely 
differing  individuals,  to  formulate  a set  of  rules  by  which 
each  could  be  shown  the  surest  and  swiftest  way  to  success 
in  life,  still  it  is  possible  to  call  attention  to  certain  qualities 
of  mind  and  character  whose  possession  has  come  to  be 
universally  looked  upon  as  essential  to  those  who  may 
aspire  to  struggle  into  the  front  rank  of  the  world’s  workers. 
As  a matter  of  fact,  it  would  be  as  difficult  to  define  the 
common  expression  “ success  in  life  ” as  it  would  be  to  lay 
down  a royal  road  which  leads  to  it.  Given  a hundred 
definitions,  from  as  many  men,  each  treating  the  subject 
from  his  own  standpoint,  and  no  two  of  them  would  be 
found  alike;  and  the  opinion  of  each  of  these,  as  time  passed 
along  with  its  inevitable  ups  and  downs,  would  be  found 
to  vary  considerably.  Flushed  with  recent  success,  the 
speculator  to-day  would  see  in  the  possession  of  millions 
and  in  the  control  of  vast  interests  the  only  proper  goal  for 
a man  of  his  great  genius;  tamed  a few  days  later  by 
unexpected  reverses,  and  he  sees  in  some  conservative 
enterprise  the  fittest  sphere  of  his  future  usefulness. 
Perhaps,  then,  without  attempting  the  impossible,  in  a 
definition  of  success  in  life,  which  will  fit  all  who  are 
seeking  it,  it  will  do  to  look  upon  it  as  the  accomplishment 
of  the  laudable  life-purpose  of  a man  of  natural  or  cultivated 
parts,  who  has  found  an  object  in  life  worth  living  and 
working  for,  and  has  worked  honestly  and  perseveringly  to 
attain  it.  As  a rule,  the  larger  the  endowment  of  those  facul- 
ties which  go  to  build  up  success  in  life,  the  higher  the  aim 
which  accompanies  them;  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
man  is  the  most-cultivable  of  all  God’s  creatures,  and  that 
by  careful  and  intelligent  study  of  the  qualities  which  have 
enabled  others  to  shine,  one  may  acquire  them  and  employ 
them  in  building  up  similar  accomplishments.  This  being 


BO,  it  does  not  lie  in  the  power  of  the  young  man  who  feels 
that  he  possesses  only  a moderate  share  of  intelligence,  force 
and  ability,  to  decide,  on  this  account,  that  he  is  not  called 
upon  to  fight  for  one  of  the  front  places  of  his  generation. 
The  most  brilliant  lives  have  often  been  those  of  men  of  or- 
dinary gifts,  who,  exerting  to  the  utmost  such  power  as  has 
been  given  them,  have  accomplished  more  than  hundreds  of 
men  who  were  much  more  bountifully  supplied  with  mental 
qualifications. 

Among  all  the  mental  qualifications  which  help  on  to 
success  in  life,  there  is  none  which  is  of  more  importance 
than  self-reliance.  If  you  want  a thing  well  done,  do  it 
yourself^  says  the  old  saw,  and  hence  comes  it  that  those 
who  rely  most  upon  themselves  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  any  aim,  are  the  ones  who  do  the  best  work. 
“Heaven  helps  those  who  help  themselves”  is  a well-tried 
maxim,  embodying  in  small  compass  the  results  of  vast 
human  experience.  The  spirit  of  self-help  is  the  root  of  all 
genuine  growth  in  the  individual;  and,  exhibited  in  the 
lives  of  many,  it  constitutes  the  true  source  of  national 
vigor  and  strength.  Help  from  without  is  often  enfeebling 
in  its  effects,  but  help  from  within  invaribly  invigorates. 
Whatever  is  done  for  men  or  classes,  to  a certain  extent 
takes  away  the  stimulus  and  necessity  of  doing  for  them- 
selves; and  where  men  are  subjected  to  over-guidance  and 
over-government,  the  inevitable  tendency  is  to  render  them 
comparatively  helpless. 

Attention,  application,  accuracy,  method,  punctuality 
and  dispatch  are  the  principle  qualities  required  for  the 
efficient  conducting  of  business  of  any  sort.  These,  at  first 
sight,  may  appear  to  be  small  matters;  and  yet  they  are  of 
essential  importance  to  human  happiness,  well-being  and 
usefulness.  They  are  little  things,  it  is  true,  but  human 

vi 


life  is  made  up  of  comparative  trifles.  It  is  the  repetition 
of  little  acts,  which  constitutes  not  only  the  sum  of  human 
nature,  but  which  determines  the  character  of  nations;  and 
where  men  or  nations  have  broken  down,  it  will  almost 
invaribly  be  found  that  neglect  of  little  things  was  the 
rock  on  which  they  split.  Every  human  being  has  duties  to 
be  performed,  and  therefore,  has  great  need  of  cultivating 
the  capacity  for  doing  them — whether  the  sphere  of  action 
be  the  man^igement  of  a household,  the  conduct  of  a trade 
or  profession,  or  the  government  of  a nation. 

It  is  the  result  of  every  day  experience  that  steady 
attention  to  matters  of  detail  lies  at  the  root  of  human 
progress;  and  that  diligence,  above  all,  is  the  mother  of 
good  luck.  Accuracy  is  also  of  much  importance,  and  an 
invariable  mark  of  good  training  in  a man,  accuracy  in 
observation,  accuracy  in  speech,  accuracy  in  the  transaction 
of  affairs.  What  is  done  in  business  must  be  well  done; 
for  it  is  better  to  accomplish  perfectly  a small  amount  of 
work  that  to  half-do  ten  times  as  much.  (A  wise  man  used 
to  say,  ‘‘Stay  a little,  that  we  may  make  an  end  the  sooner.”) 
The  leading  idea  is,  that  nothing  really  succeeds  which  is 
not  based  on  reality;  that  sham,  in  a large  sense,  is  never 
successful;  that  in  the  life  of  the  individual,  as  in  the  more 
comprehensive  life  of  the  state,  pretention  is  nothing  and 
power  is  everything. 

The  author  has  attempted  to  state  the  vital  conditions 
of  success,  that  is,  the  truth  which  really  prevails.  Posssibly 
his  statements,  in  some  cases,  may  have  the  extravagance 
and  injustice  of  epigram;  but  he  still  trusts  that  the  idea 
may  be  perceived  through  all  the  exaggerated  modes  of  its 
expression. 

Reader,  if  you  have  undertaken  the  study  of  these 
sciences,  this  most  sublime  and  useful  of  all  the  sciences, 

vii 


m order  to  gratify  merely  selfish  desires;  if  you  intend  to 
use  the  information  given  for  your  own  interest  alone,  and 
to  the  detriment  of  your  fellow  men,  let  us  earnestly 
entreat  of  you,  for  the  good  of  others  and  for  yoiir  own 
peace  of  mind  in  this  world  and  the  next,  to  close  the  book 
when  you  fimish  this  sentence,  and  either  commit  it  to  the 
flames  or  give  it  to  some  one  with  purer  motives,  and  more 
benevolent  designs.  We  can  place  in  your  hands  a most 
potent  agency  for  good  or  evil;  used  for  proper  purposes, 
and  with  a clear  appreciation  of  what  you  owe  to  yourself 
and  others,  it  will  cause  thousands  to  rise  up  and  call  you 
blessed.  But  if,  on  the  other  hand,  you  think  only  of  yourself, 
if  you  take  advantage  of  the  ignorance  of  the  multitude,  and 
use  for  dishonest  purposes  these  great  powers  which  are 
placed  at  your  command,  language  cannot  describe  the  pun- 
ishment that  you  will  deserve,  and  that  will  surely  follow  on 
such  a course.  It  is  not  for  us  to  point  out  the  direful 
consequences  of  such  abuse;  we  will  only  say  that  your 
responsibility  is  in  direct  proportion  to  your  knowledge, 
and  if  you  are  wise  you  will  heed  our  counsel. 

Yours  sincerely, 


PROF.  L.  H,  ANDERSON. 


UCC0SS. 


Nothing  Succeeds  Like  Success.^^ 


CHAPTER  I. 

fUCCESS  is  the  favorable  termination  of  an  attempt — 
the  crowning  attainment  of  well  directed  effort.  It  is 
the  opposite  of  failure  and  confers  great  honor  on  him  who 
honorably  wins  it. 

Labor  is  necessary  to  the  attainment  of  success  and  is 
the  child  of  Ambition  fostered  by  Hope. 

The  animating  wrays  of  Hope  fill  sluggish  veins  with 
warm  enthusiasm  and  engender  a purpose  in  life. 

Success  is  a goal,  attractive  to  ambitious  men  as  load- 
stone to  iron,  shining  forth  as  a golden  shrine  set  in  the 
future,  illuminated  and  made  resplendent  in  the  brilliant 
light  of  Hope. 

Hope  is  a potent  and  important  factor  to  the  attain- 
ment of  success. 

Find  a man  without  hope  and  you  have  found  a man 
fit  for  the  insane  asylum  or  ready  to  commit  suicide. 
Therefore  keep  your  eye  steadily  on  the  shrine  of  your 
ambitions  and  cling  to  Hope. 

Work  with  a single  purpose.  It  is  the  only  way  you 
can  become  absolute  master  of  the  situation  in  any  walk  of 


10 


HOW|  TO  WIN. 

life.  If  you  are  not  full  master  of  the  situation,  Hope  will 
deceive  you  and  your  shrine  will  topple  in  the  dust,  a 
broken  and  worthless  idol. 

Aim  high  bat  be  reasonable  in  what  you  expect.  Re- 
member that  though  your  ambition  of  to  day  may  be  grat* 
fied, to-morrow  it  will  but  be  supplanted  by  another  ambi- 
tion, whose  object  is  as  strongly  cherished  and  as  elusive 
as  was  the  other  but  yesterday,  which  will  still  lead  you  on. 

Thus  is  ambition  never  satisfied  and  ever  keeping  you 
in  hot  pursuit  of  something  just  beyond  your  reach.  This 
is  as  it  should  be.  It  is  a constant  stimulus  to  activity  and 
important  to  the  moulding  of  a useful  life. 

All  men  should  work  and  each  should  conscientiously 
perform  his  part  as  a factor  to  the  final  consummation  of 
the  great  plan  of  the  universe. 

We  are  always  grasping  for  something  we  do  not 
possess. 

If,' perchance,  we  get  it,  its  charm  is  soon  lost  to  us  in 
the  pursuit  of  some  other  object  which  seems  more  desira- 
ble or  perhaps  without  which  it  seems  that  which  we  do 
possess  will  not  be  perfect. 

Thus  are  we  lead  on  and  on  to  dizzy  heights  of  knowl- 
edge, fame  or  wealth  from  where  looking  down  and  back  we 
wonder  how  objects  of  our  early  desires  could  ever  have 
been  attractive. 

Crave  all  you  can  honorably  get  but  don’t  ask  too 
much — you  can  not  get  all. 

You  will  nearly  always  shoot  lower  than  you  aim,  but 
remember  it  is  always  well  to  aim  high,  and  that  success  in 
this  age  is  only  a matter  of  determination,  energy  and 
steadfastness  of  purpose  possible  to  every  man  of  stability, 
judgment  and  honor  regardless  of  the  size  of  the  house  in 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


11 


which  he  may  have  been  born  or  the  financial  condition  of 
his  ancestors. 

Chapin  says:  Man  was  sent  into  the  world  to  be  a 

growing  and  exhaustless  force.” 

Bear  well  in  mind  the  fact  that  you  are  a man  and 
think  of  Emerson’s  words:  O rich  and  various  man! 

thou  palace  of  sight  and  sound,  carrying  in  thy  senses 
the  morning  and  night  and  the  unfathomable  galaxy;  in 
thy  brain  the  geometry  of  the  city  of  God;  in  thy  heart 
the  power  of  love  and  the  realms  of  right  and  wrong.” 

You  are  a man  and  your  life  can  not  approach  too  near 
the  ideal  of  Shakespeare  when  he  Fays:  What  a piece  of 

work  is  man!  how  infinite  in  faculty!  in  apprehension  how 
like  a god!  the  beauty  of  the  world,  the  paragon  of  ani- 
mals.” 


HOW  TO  ATTAIN  SUCCESS. 

Rule  I. — Deeply  posess  your  mind  with  the  import- 
ance of  a good  judgment,  and  the  rich  and  inestimable 
advantage  of  right  reasoning.  Review  the  instances  of 
your  own  misconduct  in  life;  think  how  many  follies  and 
sorrows  you  might  have  escaped,  and  how  much  guilt  and 
misery  you  might  have  prevented,  if  from  your  early  years 
you  had  taken  due  pains  to  judge  aright  concerning  persons? 
times  and  things.  This  will  awaken  you  with  lively  vigor 
to  address  yourself  to  the  work  of  improving  your  reason- 
ing powers,  and  seizing  every  opportunity  and  advantage 
for  that  end. 

II.  Consider  the  weakness  and  frailty  of  human 
nature  in  general,  which  arise  from  the  very  constitution  of 
a soul  united  to  a material  body.  Consider  the  depth  and 
difficulty  of  many  truths,  and  the  fliattering  appearances  of 


12 


HOW  TO  WIN. 


falsehood,  whence  arise  an  infinite  variety  of  dangers  to 
which  we  are  exposed  in  our  judgement  of  things. 

III.  A slight  view  of  things  so  momentous  is  not 
sufficient.  You  should  therefore  contrive  and  practise 
proper  methods  to  acquaint  yourself  with  your  own  igno- 
rance, and  to  impress  your  mind  with  a sense  of  the  low 
and  imperfect  degree  of  your  present  knowledge,  that  you 
may  be  incited  with  labor  and  activity  to  pursue  after 
greater  measures.  Among  others  you  may  find  methods 
such  as  these  successful: 

1.  Survey  at  times  the  vast  and  unlimited  regions  of 
learning.  Let  your  meditations  run  over  the  names  of  all 
the  sciences,  with  their  numerous  branchings,  and  innumer- 
able particular  themes  of  knowledge;  and  then  reflect  how 
few  of  them  you  are  acquainted  with  in  any  tolerable 
degree. 

2.  Think  what  a numberless  variety  of  questions  and 
difficulties  there  are  belonging  even  to  that  particular 
science  in  which  you  have  made  the  greatest  progress,  and 
how  few  of  them  there  are  in  which  you  have  arrived  at  a 
final  and  undoubted  certainty. 

3.  Read  the  accounts  of  those  vast  treasures  of 
knowledge  which  some  of  the  dead  have  possessed,  and 
some  of  the  living  do  possess.  Read  the  almost  incredible 
advances  which  have  been  made  in  science.  Acquaint 
yourself  with  persons  of  great  learning,  that  by  converse 
among  them,  and  comparing  yourself  with  them,  you  may 
be  animated  with  new  zeal  to  equal  them  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, or  to  exceed:  thus  let  your  diligence  be  quickened  by  a 
generous  and  laudible  emulation. 

Remember  this,  that  if  upon  some  few  superficial 
acquirements  you  value,  exalt  and  swell  yourself,  as  though 
you  were  a man  of  learning  already,  you  are  thereby  build- 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


13 


ing  an  impassable  barrier  against  all  improvement;  you  will 
lie  down  and  indulge  idleness,  and  rest  yourself  contented 
in  the  midst  of  deep  and  shameful  ignorance. 

IV.  Presume  not  too  much  upon  a bright  genius,  a 
ready  wit,  and  good  parts,  for  this,  without  labor  and  study, 
will  never  make  a man  of  knowledge  and  wisdom.  This 
has  been  an  unhappy  temptation,  to  persons  of  a vigorous 
and  lively  fancy,  to  despise  learning  and  study.  They  have 
been  acknowledged  to  shine  in  an  assembly,  and  to  sparkle 
in  a discourse  of  common  topics,  and  thence  they  took  it 
into  their  heads  to  abandon  reading  and  labor,  and  grow 
old  in  ignorance;  but  when  they  had  lost  their  vivacity  of 
animal  nature  and  youth,  they  became  stupid  and  sottish 
even  to  contempt  and  ridicule. 

Witty  men  sometimes  have  sense  enough  to  know  their 
own  foible,  and  therefore  craftily  shun  the  attacks  of  argu- 
ment, or  boldly  pretend  to  despise  and  renounce  them,  be- 
cause they  are  conscious  of  their  own  ignorance,  and  inward- 
ly confess  their  want  of  acquaintance  with  the  skill  of 
reasoning. 

V.  As  you  are  not  to  fancy  yourself  a learned  man 
because  you  are  blessed  with  a ready  wit,  so  neither  must 
you  imagine  that  large  and  laborous  reading,  and  a strong 
memory,  can  denominate  you  truly  wise. 

It  is  meditation  and  studious  thought,  it  is  the  exercise 
of  your  own  reason  and  judgment  upon  all  you  read,  that 
gives  you  good  sense  even  to  the  best  genius,  and  affords 
your  understanding  the  truest  improvement.  A boy  of  a 
strong  memory  may  repeat  a whole  book  of  Euclid,  yet  be 
no  geometrician;  for  he  may  nut  be  able  perhaps  to  demon- 
strate one  single  theorem. 

A well  furnished  library  and  a capacious  memory  are 
indeed  of  singular  use  towards  the  improvement  of  the 
mind;  out  if  all  your  learning  br^  nothing  but  a mere  amass- 


14 


HOW  TO  WIN. 


ment  of  what  others  have  written,  without  a due  penetra- 
tion into  the  meaning,  and  without  a judicious  choice  and 
determination  of  your  own  sentiments,  I do  not  see  what 
title  your  head  has  to  true  learning  above  your  shelves. 
Though  you  have  read  philosophy  and  theology,  morals 
and  metaphysics  in  abundance,  and  every  other  art  and 
science,  yet  if  your  memory  is  the  only  faculty  employed, 
with  the  neglect  of  your  reasoning  powers,  you  can  justly 
claim  no  higher  character  than  that  of  a good  historian  of 
the  sciences. 

Here  note,  many  of  the  foregoing  rules  are  more  pecu- 
liarly proper  for  those  who  are  conceited  of  their  abilities, 
and  are  ready  to  entertain  a high  opinion  of  themselves. 
But  a modest,  humble  youth,  of  a good  genius,  should  not 
suffer  himself  to  be  discouraged  by  any  of  these  considera- 
tions. They  are  designed  only  as  a spur  to  diligence,  and  a 
guard  against  vanity  and  pride. 

VI.  Be  not  so  weak  as  to  imagine  that  a life  of  learn- 
ing is  a life  of  laziness  and  ease.  Dare  not  give  up  your- 
self to  any  of  the  learned  professions,  unless  you  are  resolv- 
ed to  labor  hard  at  study,  and  can  make  it  your  delight, 
and  the  joy  of  your  life. 

Vn.  Let  the  hope  of  new  discoveries,  as  well  as]  the 
satisfaction  and  pleasure  of  known  truths  animate  your 
daily  industry.  Do  not  think  learning  in  general  is  arrived 
at  its  perfection,  or  that  the  knowledge  of  any  particular 
subject  in  any  science  cannot  be  improved,  merely  because 
it  has  lain  five  hundred  or  a thousand  years  without  im- 
provement. The  present  age,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on 
the  ingenuity  and  dili  rence  of  men,  has  brought  to  light 
such  truths  in  natural  philosophy,  and  such  discoveries  in 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  as  seemed  to  be  beyond  the 
reach  of  man. 

VIII.  Do  not  hover  always  on  the  surface  of  things. 


OE  SUEE  SECEETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


15 


nor  take  up  suddenly  with  mere  appearances;  but  pene- 
trate into  the  depth  of  matters,  as  far  as  your  time  and  cir- 
cumstances allow,  especially  in  those  things  which  relate  to 
your  own  profession.  Do  not  indulge  yourself  to  judge  of 
things  by  the  first  glimpse,  or  a short  and  superficial  view 
of  them;  for  this  will  fill  the  mind  with  errors  and  preju- 
dices, and  give  it  a wrong  turn  and  an  ill  habit  of  thinkings 
and  make  much  work  for  retraction. 

As  for  those  sciences  or  those  parts  of  knowledge  which 
either  your  prof ession,  your  leisure,  your  inclination,  or' 
your  incapacity  forbid  you  to  pursue  with  much  application,' 
or  to  search  far  into  them,  you  must  be  contented  with  an 
historical  and  superficial  knowledge  of  them,  and  not  pre- 
tend to  form  any  judgement  of  your  own  on  those  subjects 
which  you  understand  very  imperfectly. 

IX.  Once  a day,  especially  in  the  early  years  of  life 
and  study,  call  yourself  to  an  account,  and  inquire  what 
new  ideas,  what  new  proposition  or  truth  you  have  gained, 
‘what  further  confirmation  of  known  truths,  and  what  ad- 
vances you  have  made  in  any  part  of  knowledge;  and  let  no 
day,  if  possible,  p^ss  away  without  some  intellectual  gain: 
such  a course,  well  pursued,  must  certainly  advance  you  in 
useful  knowledge.  It  is  a wise  proverb  among  the  learned, 
borrowed  from  the  lips  and  practice  of  a celebrated  painter: 

Let  no  day  pass  without  one  line  at  least;”  and  it  was  a 
sacred  rule  among  the  Pythagoreans  that  they  should  every 
evening  thrice  run  over  the  actions  and  affairs  of  the  day, 
and  examine  what  their  conduct  had  been,  what  they  had 
done,  or  what  they  had  neglected;  and  they  assured  their 
pupils  that  by  this  method  they  would  make  a noble  pro- 
gress in  the  path  of  virtue. 

X.  Maintain  a constant  watch  at  all  times  against  a 
dogmatical  spirit ; fix  not  your  assent  to  any  proposition  in 
a firm  and  unalterable  manner,  until  you  have  some  firm 


16 


HOW  TO  wiisr. 


and  unalterable  ground  for  it — until  you  have  arrived  at 
some  clear  and  sure  evidence,  and  have  turned  the  proposi- 
tion on  all  sides,  and  liave  searched  the  matter  through  and 
through,  so  that  you  cannot  be  mistaken.  And  even  wheie 
you  may  think  you  have  full  grounds  of  assurance,  be  not 
too  early  nor  too  frequent  in  expressing  this  assurance  in  a 
positive  manner,  remembering  that  human  nature  is  always 
liable  to  mistake. 

A dogmatical  spirit  naturally  leads  us  to  arrogance  of 
mind,  and  gives  a man. airs  in  conversation  which  are  too 
haughty  and  assuming. 

A dogmatical  spirit  inclines  a man  to  be  censorious  of 
his  neighbors.  Every  one  of  his  own  opinions  appears  to 
him  written  as  it  were  with  sunbeams,  and  he  grows  angry 
that  his  neighbor  does  not  see  it  in  the  same  light.  He  is 
tempted  to  disdain  his  correspondents  as  men  of  a low  and 
dark  understanding,  because  they  will  not  believe  as  he 
does. 

Men  of  this  spirit,  when  they  deal  in  controversy,  de- 
light in  reproaches.  They  abound  in  tossing  about  absurd- 
ity and  stupidity  among  their  brethren;  they  cast  the  impu- 
tation of  heresy  and  nonsense  plentifully  upon  their  antag- 
onists, and  in  matters  of  sacred  importance  they  deal  out 
their  anathemas  in  abundance  upon  Christians  better  than 
themselves;  they  denounce  damnation  upon  their  neigh- 
bors without  either  justice  or  mercy;  and  when  they  pro- 
nounce sentences  of  divine  wrath  against  supposed  heretics, 
they  add  the  r own  human  fire  and  indignation.  A dog- 
matist in  religion  is  not  a great  way  off  from  a bigot,  and 
is  in  high  danger  of  growing  up  to  be  a persecutor. 

XI.  Though  caution  and  slow  assent  will  guard  you 
against  frequent  mistakes,  yet  you  should  have  courage 
enough  to  retract  any  mistake  and  confess  any  error;  fre- 
quent changes  are  tokens  of  levity  in  our  first  determine  • 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


17 


o 

tions,  yet  you  should  never  be  to  proud  to  change  your 
opinion,  nor  frightened  at  the  name  of  changeling.  Learn 
to  scorn  those  vulgar  bugbears,  which  confirm  foolish  man 
in  his  old  mistakes,  for  fear  of  being  charged  with  incon- 
stancy. I confess  it  is  better  not  to  judge  than  to  judge 
falsely;  it  is  wiser  to  withhold  our  assent  till  we  see  com- 
plete evidence:  but  if  we  have  too  suddenly  given  our  as- 
sent, as  the  wisest  man  sometimes  does,  if  we  have  professed 
what  we  find  afterwards  to  be  false,  we  should  never  be 
ashamed  nor  afraid  to  renounce  the  mistake. 

XII.  Have  a care  of  trifling  with  things  important 
and  momentious,  or  of  sporting  with  things  awful  and 
sacred:  do  not  indulge  in  a spirit  of  ridicule,  as  some  witty 
men  do,  on  all  occasions  and  subjects.  This  will  as  unhap- 
pily bias  the  judgment  on  the  other  side,  and  incline  you  to 
set  a low  estimate  on  the  most  valuable  objects.  What- 
soever evil  habit  we  indulge  in  will  insensibly  obtain  a 
power  over  our  understanding  and  betray  us  into  many 
errors. 

XIII.  Ever  maintain  a virtuous  and  pious  frame  of 
spirit,  for  an  indulgence  of  vicious  inclinations  debases  the 
understanding  and  perverts  the  judgement.  Sensuality 
ruins  the  better  faculties  of  the  mind.  An  indulgence  of 
appetite  and  passion  enfeebles  the  powers  of  reason:  it 
makes  the  judgment  weak  and  susceptible  to  every  false- 
hood, and  especially  to  such  mistakes  as  have  a tendency 
t3wards  the  gratification  of  the  animal  nature,  and  it  warps 
the  soul  aside  from  the  steadfast  honesty  and  integrity 
that  necessarily  belong  to  the  pursuit  of  truth.  It  is  the 
virtuous  man  who  is  in  a fair  way  to  wisdom.  God  gives 
to  those  that  are  good  in  his  sight  wisdom,  and  knowledge, 
and  joy:”  (Eccles.  ii.  26.) 

Piety  towards  God,  as  well  as  sobriety  and  virtue,  are 
necessary  qualifications  to  make  a truly  wise  and  judicious 


18 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


man.  He  that  abandons  religion  must  act  in  such  con- 
tradiction to  his  own  conscience  and  best  judgment,  that 
he  abuses  and  spoils  the  faculty  itself.  It  is  thus  in  the 
nature  of  things,  and  it  is  thus  by  the  righteous  judgment 
of  God. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  GOOD  TO  BE  OBTAINED  FKOM  OBSEKYATION 
BEADING,  INSTEUCTION  BY  LECTUBES, 
CONVEBSATION  AND  STUDY, 

COMPABED. 

«HERE  are  five  eminent  means  or  methods  whereby  the 
mind  is  improved  in  the  knowledge  of  things;  and 
these  are  observation,  reading,  instruction  by  lectures,  con- 
versation, and  meditation;  the  last,  in  a more  peculiar  man- 
ner, is  called  study. 

Let  us  survey  the  general  definitions  or  descriptions  of 
each  and  all  of  them. 

HOW  TO  BE  OBSEEVING. 

1.  It  is  owing  tu  observation  that  our  mind  is  furn- 
ished with  the  first  simple  and  complex  ideas.  It  is  this 
that  lays  the  ground-work  and  foundation  of  all  knowledge? 
and  makes  us  capable  of  using  any  of  the  other  methods  for 
improving  the  mind;  for  if  we  did  not  attain  a variety  of 
sensible  and  intellectual  ideas  by  the  sensations  of  outward 
objects,  by  the  consciousness  of  our  own  appetites  and  pas- 
sions, pleasures  and  pains,  and  by  inward  experience  of  the 
actings  of  our  own  spirits,  it  would  be  impossible  either  for 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS- 


19 


men  or  books  to  teach  us  anything.  It  is  observation  that 
must  give  us  our  first  idea  of  things,  as  it  includes  sense 
and  consciousness. 

2.  All  our  knowledge  derived  from  observation, 
whether  it  be  of  single  ideas  or  of  propositions,  is  knowl- 
edge gotten  at  first  hand.  Hereby  we  see  and  know  things 
as  they  are,  or  as  they  appear  to  us;  we  take  the  impres- 
sions of  them  on  our  minds  from  the  original  objects  them- 
selves, which  give  clear  and  strong  conceptions.  Whereas 
the  knowldge  we  derive  from  lectures,  reading,  and  conver- 
sation is  but  the  copy  of  other  men’s  ideas — that  is,  a pic- 
ture of  a picture. 

3.  Another  advantage  of  observation  is,  that  we  may 
gain  knowledge  all  the  day  long,  and  every  moment  of  our 
lives.  Every  moment  of  our  existence,  except  while  we  are 
asleep,  we  may  be  adding  something  to  our  intellectual 
treasures,  and  even  the  remembrance  of  our  dreaming  will 
teach  us  some  truths,  and  lay  a foundation  for  a better  ac- 
quaintance with  human  nature,  both  in  the  powers  and  the 
frailties  of  it. 

WHAT  TO  BEAD  AND  HOW  TO  PEOFIT  BY  IT. 

By  reading  we  acquaint  ourselves  in  a very  extensive 
manner  with  the  affairs,  actions,  and  thoughts  of  the  living 
and  the  dead  in  the  most  remote  nations  and  most  distant 
ages,  and  that  with  as  much  ease  as  though  they  lived  in 
our  own  age  and  nation.  By  reading  we  may  learn  some- 
thing from  all  portions  of  mankind,  whereas  by  observa- 
tion we  learn  all  from  ourselves,  and  only  what  comes 
within  our  own  direct  cognizance;  and  by  our  conversation 
we  can  enjoy  only  the  assistance  of  a very  few  persons — 
those  who  are  near  us  and  live  at  the  same  time,  our  neigh- 
bors and  contemporaries;  but  our  knowledge  is  much  more 
narrowed  still  if  we  confine  ourselves  to  our  own  solitary 


20 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


reasonings,  without  observation  or  reading,  for  then  all  our 
improvement  must  arise  only  from  our  own  inward  powers 
and  meditations. 

4.  By  reading  we  learn  not  only  the  actions  and  the 
sentiments  of  different  nations  and  ages,  but  we  transfer  to 
ourselves  the  knowledge  and  improvements  of  the  most 
learned  men,  the  wisest  and  the  best  of  mankind,  when  or 
wheresoever  they  may  have  lived;  whereas  we  can  obtain 
the  conversation  and  instruction  of  those  only  who  are 
within  the  reach  of  our  dwelling  or  our  acquaintance, 
whether  they  are  wise  or  unwise;  and  sometimes  that  nar- 
row sphere  scarce  affords  any  person  of  eminence  in  wis- 
dom or  learning,  unless  our  instructor  happen  to  have  this 
character.  And  as  for  our  study  and  meditations,  even 
when  we  arrive  at  some  good  degree  of  learning,  our  oppor- 
tunities for  further  improvement  in  knowledge  by  them  are 
still  far  more  contracted  than  those  that  may  be  afforded  by 
reading. 

5.  When  we  read  good  authors  we  learn  the  best,  the 
most  labored,  and  most  refined  sentiments  of  wise  and 
learned  men,  for  they  have  studied  hard,  and  have  commit- 
ted to  writing  their  maturest  thoughts,  the  results  of  long 
study  and  experience;  whereas  by  conversation,  and  in  lec- 
tures, we  often  obtain  only  the  present  thoughts  of  our 
tutors  or  friends,  which,  though  they  may  be  bright  and 
and  useful,  are  at  first  perhaps  sudden  and  indigest- 
ed, and  mere  hints  which  have  risen  to  no  maturity. 

6.  It  is  another  advantage  of  reading  that  we  may  re- 
view what  we  have  read.  We  may  consult  the  page  again 
and  again,  and  meditate  on  it  at  successive  seasons  in  our 
serenest  and  most  retired  hours,  having  the  book  always 
at  hand;  but  what  we  obtain  by  conversation  and  in  lectures 
is  often  lost  again  as  soon  as  the  company  breaks  up  or  the 
day  vanishes,  unless  we  happen  to  have  a good  memory  or, 


OK  SUKE  SECEETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


21 


quickly  retire  and  note  down  what  we  have  found  of  value. 
For  the  same  reason,  and  for  the  want  of  retiring  and  writ- 
ing, many  a learned  man  has  lost  useful  meditations  of  his 
own,  and  could  never  recall  them. 

HOW  TO  GET  THE  GKEATEST  POSSIBHE  BENEFIT  FROM 
LECTURES. 

1.  There  is  something  more  sprightly,  more  delightful 
and  more  entertaining  in  the  living  discourse  of  a wise  and 
well-qualified  teacher,  than  there  is  in  the  silent  and  seden- 
tary practice  of  reading.  The  very  turn  of  voice,  the  good 
pronunciation,  and  the  polite  and  alluring  manner  which 
some  teachers  have  attained,  will  engage  the  attention, 
keep  the  soul  fixed,  tod  convey  instruction  in  a more  lively 
and  forcible  way  than  is  possible  in  the  mere  reading  of 
books. 

2.  A tutor  or  instructor,  when  he  paraphrases  and  ex- 
plains an  author,  can  mark  out  the  precise  point  of  difficulty 
or  controversy  and  unfold  it.  He  can  show  you  which  par- 
agraphs  are  of  greatest  importance,  and  which  are  of  less 
moment.  He  can  teach  his  hearers  what  authors  or  what 
parts  of  an  author  are  best  worth  reading  on  any  particular 
subject,  and  thus  save  his  disciples  much  time  and  pains  by 
shortening  the  labors  of  their  private  studies.  He  can  show 
you  what  were  the  doctrines  of  the  ancients  in  a compen- 
dium which  perhaps  would  cost  much  labor  and  the  perusal 
of  many  books  to  attain.  He  can  inform  you  what  new 
doctrines  or  sentiments  are  arising  in  the  world  before  they 
come  to  the  public,  as  well  as  acquaint  you  with  his  own 
private  thoughts  and  his  own  experiments  and  observa- 
tions, which  never  were  and  perhaps  never  will  be  publish- 
ed to  the  world,  and  yet  may  be  very  valuable  and  useful. 

3.  When  an  instructor  in  his  lectures  delivers  any 
matter  of  difficulty  or  expresses  himself  in  such  a manner 


22 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


as  seems  obscure,  so  that  you  do  not  take  up  his  ideas  clear- 
ly or  fully,  you  have  opportunity,  when  the  lecture  is  fin- 
ished or  at  other  proper  seasons,  to  inquire  how  such  a sen- 
tence should  be  understood,  or  how  such  a difficulty  may  be 
explained  and  removed. 

If  there  be  permission  g^iven  to  converse  freely  with  the 
tutor,  either  in  the  midst  of  a lecture  or  at  the  end  of  it, 
concerning  any  doubts  or  difficulties  that  occur  to  the  hear- 
er this  brings  it  very  near  to  conversation  or  discourse. 

PEOFITxVBIiE  OONVEKSATION. 

1.  When  we  converse  familiarly  with  a learned  friend, 
we  have  his  own  help  at  hand  to  explain  to  us  every  word 
and  sentiment  that  seems  obscure  in  his  discourse,  and  to 
inform  us  of  his  whole  meaning,  so  that  we  are  in  much 
less  danger  of  mistaking  his  sense;  whereas  in  books  what- 
soever is  really  obscure  may  abide  always  obscure  without 
remedy,  since  the  author  is  not  at  hand  that  we  may  inquire 
his  meaning. 

2.  If  we  mistake  the  meaning  of  our  friend  in  con- 
versation we  are  quickly  set  right  again,  but  in  reading  we 
many  times  go  on  in  the  same  mistake,  and  are  not  capa- 
ble of  recovering  ourselves  from  it.  Thence  it  comes  to  pass 
that  we  have  so  many  contests  in  all  ages  about  the  mean- 
ing of  ancient  authors,  and  especially  of  the  sacred 
writers. 

3.  When  we  are  discoursing  upon  any  theme  with  a 
friend,  we  may  propose  our  doubts  and  objections  against 
his  sentiments  and  have  them  solved  and  answered  at  once. 
The  difficulties  that  arise  in  our  minds  may  be  removed  by 
one  enlightening  word;  whereas  in  reading,  if  a difficulty 
or  question  arise  in  our  thoughts,  which  the  author  has  not 
happened  to  mention,  we  must  be  content  without  a present 
answer  or  solution  of  it. 


OB  SUBE  SECBETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


23 


4.  Not  only  are  the  doubts  which  arise  in  the  mind 
upon  any  subject  or  discourse  easily  proposed  and  solved  in 
conversation,  but  the  difficulties  we  meet  with  * in  books 
and  in  our  private  studies  may  find  a relief  by  friendly 
conferences.  We  may  pore  upon  a knotty  point  in  solitary 
meditation  many  months  without  a solution,  because  per- 
haps we  have  gotten  into  a wrong  track  of  thought,  and 
our  labor,  while  we  are  pursuing  a false  scent,  is  not  only 
useless  and  unsuccessful,  but  it  leads  us  perhaps  into  a long 
train  of  error  for  want  of  being  corrected  in  the  first  step. 
But  if  we  note  down  the  difficulty  when  we  read  it,  we  may 
propose  it  to  an  intelligent  friend  or  teacher  when  we  see 
him.  We  may  thus  be  relieved  in  a moment  and  find  the 
difficulty  vanish : he  beholds  the  object  perhaps  in  a different 
view,  sets  it  before  us  in  quite  a different  light,  leads  us  at 
once  into  evidence  and  truth,  and  that  with  a delightful 
surprise. 

5.  Conversation  calls  into  light  what  has  been  lodged 
in  the  recesses  and  secret  chambers  of  the  soul.  By  occa- 
sional hints  and  incidents  it  brings  useful  notions  into  re- 
membrance: it  unfolds  and  displays  the  hidden  treasures  of 
knowledge  with  which  reading,  observation  and  study,  have 
before  furnished  the  mind.  By  mutual  discourse  the  soul  is 
awakened  and  allured  to  bring  forth  its  hords  of  knowledge 
and  it  learns  how  to  render  them  most  useful  to  mankind. 
A man  of  vast  reading  without  conversation  is  like  a miser 
who  lives  only  to  himself. 

6.  In  free  and  friendly  conversation  our  intellectual 
powers  are  now  animated,  and  our  spirits  act  with  a super- 
ior* vigor  in  the  quest  and  pursuit  of  unknown  truths.  There 
is  a sharpne«5S  and  sagacity  of  thought  that  attends  conver- 
sation beyond  what  we  fiid  whilst  we  are  shut  up  reading' 
and  musing  in  our  retirement.  Our  souls  may  be  serene  in 
solitude,  but  not  sparkling,  though  perhaps  we  are  employed 


24 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


in  reading  the  works  of  the  brightest  writers.  It  often 
happens  in  free  discourse  that  new  thoughts  are  strangely 
struck  out,  which  in  calm  and  silent  reading  would  never 
be  excited.  By  conversation  you  will  both  give  and  re- 
ceive this  benefit,  as  flints  when  put  into  motion  and  in 
striking  against  each  other  produce  living  fire  on  both 
sides,  which  would  never  have  arisen  from  the  same  hard 
materials  in  a state  of  rest. 

7.  In  generous  conversation  amongst  ingenious  and 
learned  men  we  have  the  great  advantage  of  proposing  our 
priva  te  opinions,  and  bringing  our  sentiments  to  the  test, 
and  learning  in  a safe  and  compendious  way  that  the  world 
will  judge  of  them,  how  mankind  will  receive  them,  what 
objections  may  be  raised  against  them,  what  defects  there 
are  in  our  scheme,  and  howto  correct  our  mistakes.  These 
advantages  are  not  so  easy  to  be  obtained  by  our  own  pri- 
vate meditations,  for  the  pleasure  we  take  in  our  own  no- 
tions, and  the  passion  of  self  love,  as  well  as  the  narrowness 
of  our  views,  tempt  us  to  pass  too  favorable  an  opinion  on 
our  own  schemes;  whereas  the  variety  6f  genius  in  our  sev- 
eral associates,  will  give  happy  notice  how  our  opinions 
will  stand  in  the  view  of  mankind. 

8.  It  is  also  another  considerable  advantage  of  con- 
versation, that  it  furnishes  the  student  with  a knowledge  of 
men  and  the  affairs  of  life,  as  reading  furnishes  him  with 
book  learning.  A man  who  dwells  all  his  days  among 
books  may  amass  a great  amount  of  knowledge,  but  he 
may  still  be  a mere  scholar,  which  is  a contemptible  sort  of 
character  in  the  world.  A hermit  shut  up  in  his  cell  in  a 
college  contracts  a sort  of  mould  and  rust  upon  his  soul, 
and  all  his  airs  of  behavior,  have  a certain  awkwardness  in 
them;  but  these  awkward  airs  are  worn  away  by  degrees  in 
company.  The  scholar  becomes  a citizen  or  a gentleman, 
a neighbor  and  a friend:  he  learns  how  to  dress  his  senti- 


OK  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


ments,  in  the  fairest  colors,  as  well  as  to  set  them  in  the 
strongest  light.  Thus  he  brings  out  his  notions  with  honor: 
he  makes  some  use  of  them  in  the  world,  and  improves 
theory  by  practice. 

SERIOUS  AND  PROFOUND  MEDITATION. 

Mere  lectures,  reading  and  conversation,  without  think- 
ing, are  not  sufficient  to  make  a man  of  knowledge  and 
wisdom.  It  is  our  own  thought  and  reflection,  study  and 
me  ditation,  that  must  attend  all  the  other  methods  of  im- 
provement, and  perfect  them. 

1.  Though  observation  and  instruction,  reading  and 
conversation,  may  furnish  us  with  many  ideas  of  men  and 
things,  yet  it  is  our  own  meditation^  and  the  labor 
of  our  own  thoughts,  that  must  form  our  judgment 
of  them.  It  is  our  own  mind  that  mus^-  judge  for  ourselves 
concerning  the  agreement  or  disagreement  of  ideas,  and 
form  propositions  of  truth  out  of  them.  Reading  and 
conversation  may  acquaint  us  with  many  truths,  and 
with  many  arguments  to  support  them;  but  it  is  our  own 
study  and  reasoning  that  must  determine  whether  the  prop- 
ositions are  true,  and  whether  the  arguments  are  just  and 
solid. 

2.  It  is  confessed  there  are  a thousand  things  which 
our  eyes  have  not  seen,  and  which  would  never  come  within 
the  reach  of  our  ^personal  and  immediate  knowledge  and 
observation,  because  of  the  distance  of  time  and  place: 
these  must  be  known  by  consulting  other  persons;  and  that 
is  done  either  in  their  writings  or  in  their  discourses.  But 
after  all,  let  this  be  a fixed  point  with  us,  that  our  own  re* 
flection  and  judgment  alone  must  determine  how  J‘ar  we 
receive  that  of  which  books  or  men  inform  us,  and  how  far 
they  are  worthy  of  our  assent  and  credit. 

3.  It  is  meditation  and  study  that  transfer  and  con- 


26 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


vey  the  notions  and  sentiments  of  others  to  ourselves,  so 
as  to  make  them  properly  our  own.  It  is  our  own  judg- 
ment upon  themy  as  well  as  our  memory  of  them^  that  makes 
them  become  our  own  property, 

4,  By  study  and  meditation  we  improve  the  hints  that 
we  have  acquired  by  observation,  conversation  and  reading. 
We  take  more  time  in  thinking,  and  by  the  labor  of  the 
mind  we  penetrate  deeper  into  the  themes  of  knowledge, 
and  carry  our  thoughts  sometimes  much  further  on  many 
subjects  than  we  ever  met  with  in  the  reflections  of-  others, 
either  in  the  books  of  the  dead  or  the  discourses  of  the  liv- 
ing. It  is  our  own  reasoning  that  draws  out  one  truth  from 
another,  and  forms  a whole  scheme  or  science  from  a few 
hints  which  we  borrowed  elsewhere. 

5.  By  a survey  of  these  things  we  may  justly  conclude 
that  he  who  spends  all  his  time  in  hearing  lectures,  or  por- 
ing over  books,  without  observation,  meditation  or  con- 
verse, will  have  but  a mere  historical  knowledge  of  learn- 
ing, and  be  able  only  to  tell  what  others  have  known  or 
said  on  any  subject.  He  that  lets  all  his  time  flow  away  in 
conversation,  without  due  observation,  reading  or  study, 
will  gain  but  a slight  and  superficial  knowledge,  which  will 
be  in  danger  of  vanishing  with  the  voice  of  the  speaker.  He 
that  confines  himself  to  his  closet  and  his  own  narrow  obser- 
vation of  things,  and  is  taught  only  by  his  own  solitary 
thoughts,  will  be  in  danger  of  a narrow  spirit,  a vain  con- 
ceit of  himself,  and  an  unreasonable  contempt  of  others; 
and  after  all  he  will  obtain  but  a very  limited  and  imper 
feet  view  and  knowledge  of  things,  and  will  seldom  learn 
how  to  make  that  knowledge  useful. 

These  five  methods  of  improvement  should  be  pursued 
jointly,  and  go  hand  in  hand  where  our  circumstances  are 
so  happy  as  to  find  opportunity  and  convenience  to  enjoy 
them  all;  though  I must  give  opinion  that  two  of  them. 


on  SUKE  SECKETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


27 


namely,  reading  and  meditation,  should  employ  much  more 
of  our  time  than  public  lectures  or  conversation  and  dis- 
discourse.  As  for  observation,  we  may  be  always  acquir- 
ing knowledge  in  that  way,  whether  we  are  alone  or  in 
company. 

Let  the  enlargement  of  your  knowledge  be  a constant 
view  and  end  in  life,  since  there  is  no  time  or  place,  no 
transactions,  occurrences,  or  engagements,  which  exclude 
us  from  this  method  of  improving  the  mind.  When  we  are 
alone,  even  in  darkness  and  silence,  we  may  converse  with 
our  own  hearts,  observe  the  working  of  our  own  spirits,  and 
reflect  upon  the  inward  motions  of  our  own  passions  in 
some  of  the  latest  occurrences  in  life;  we  may  acquaint 
ourselves  with  the  powers  and  properties,  the  tendencies 
and  inclinations  both  of  body  and  spirit,  and  so  gain  a 
more  intimate  knowledge  of  ourselves.  When  we  are  in 
company,  we  may  discover  something  more  of  human  na- 
ture, of  human  passions  and  follies,  and  of  human  affairs, 
vices  and  virtues,  by  conversing  with  mankind  and  observ- 
ing their  conduct.  Nor  is  there  anything  more  valuable 
than  the  knowledge  of  ourselves  and  the  knowledge  of 
men,  except  it  be  a knowledge  of  God  who  made  us,  and 
our  relation  to  Him  as  our  Governor. 

When  we  are  in  the  house  or  the  city,  wheresoever  wc 
turn  our  eyes  we  see  the  works  of  men:  when  we  are 
abroad  in  the  country  we  behold  more  of  the  work  of  God. 
The  skies  above  and  the  ground  beneath  us,  the  animal  and 
vegetable  world  around  about  us,  may  entertain  our  ob- 
servation with  ten  thousand  varieties. 

Endeavor,  therefore,  to  derive  some  instruction  or  im- 
provement of  the  mind  from  every  thing  which  you  see  or 
hear,  from  every  thing  which  occurs  in  human  life,  from 
every  thing  within  y^iu  or  without  you.  Read  the  wisdom 
of  God  and  his  admirable  contrivance  in  them  all;  read  his 


28  HOW  TO  WIN, 

almighty  power,  his  rich  and  various  goodness  in  all  the 
works  of  his  hands. 

2.  From  the  day  and  the  night,  the  hours  and  the  flying 
minutes,  learn  a wise  improvement  of  time,  and  be  watchful 
to  seize  every  opportunity  to  increase  in  knowledge. 

3.  From  the  vicissitudes  and  revolutions  of  nations  and 
families,  and  from  the  various  occurrences  of*  the  world, 
learn  the  instability  of  mortal  affairs,  the  uncertainty  of  life. 

4.  From  the  vices  and  follies  of  others,  observe  what 
is  hateful  in  them;  consider  how  such  a practice  looks  in 
another  person,  and  remember  that  it  looks  as  ill  or  worse 
in  yourself.  From  the  virtue  of  others  learn  something 
worthy  of  your  imitation. 

5.  From  the  deformity,  the  distress,  or  calamity  of 
others,  derive  lessons  of  thankfulness  to  God,  and  hymns  of 
grateful  praise  to  your  Creator,  Governor  and  Benefactor, 
who  has  formed  you  in  a better  mould,  and  guarded  you 
from  those  evils.  Learn  also  the  sacred  lesson  of  content- 
ment in  your  own  estate,  and  compassion  to  your  neighbor 
under  his  miseries. 

6.  From  your  natural  powers  make  this  inference,  that 
they  were  not  given  you  for  nothing,  but  for  some  useful 
employment  to  the  honor  of  your  Maker,  and  for  the  good 
of  your  fellow-creatures,  as  well  as  for  your  own  best  inter- 
est and  final  happiness. 

7.  From  the  sorrows,  the  pains,  the  sicknesses,  and 
sufferings  that  attend  you,  learn  the  evil  pf  sin  and  the 
imperfection  of  your  present  state.  From  your  own  sins 
and  follies  learn  the  patience  of  God  toward  you,  and  the 
practice  of  humility  toward  God  and  man. 

8.  Thus  from  every  appearance  in  nature,  and  from 
every  occurrence  of  life,  you  may  derive  natural,  moral  and 
religious  observations  to  entertain  your  minds,  as  well  as 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


29 


rules  of  conduct  in  the  affairs  relating  to  this  life  and  that 
which  is  to  come. 

Among  books  which  are  proper  and  requisite,  in  order 
to  improve  our  knowledge  in  general,  or  our  acquaintance 
with  any  particular  science,  it  is  necessary  that  we  should 
be  furnished  with  vocabularies  and  dictionaries  of  several 
sorts,  namely,  of  common  words,  idioms  and  phrases,  in 
order  to  explain  their  sense;  of  technical  words,  or  the 
terms  of  art,  to  show  their  use  in  arts  and  sciences;  of 
names  of  men,  countries,  towns,  rivers,  and  the  like.  These 
are  to  be  consulted  and  used  upon  every  occasion;  and 
never  let  an  unknown  word  pass  in  your  reading  without 
seeking  for  its  sense  and  meaning. 

If  such  books  are  not  at  hand,  you  must  supply  the 
want  of  them  as  well  as  you  can,  by  consulting  those  who 
can  inform  you;  and  it  is  useful  to  note  down  miatters  of 
doubt  and  inquiry  in  some  poeket-book,  and  take  the  first 
opportunity  to  get  them  resolved,  either  by  person  or 
books. 

B3  not  satisfied  with  a mere  knowledge  of  the  best  au- 
thors that  treat  of  any  subject,  instead  of  acquainting  your- 
selves thoroughly  with  the  subject  itself.  There  are  many 
young  students  who  are  fond  of  enlarging  their  knowledge 
of  books,  who  content  themselves  with  a notice  of  their 
title-pages,  which  is  the  attainment  of  a bookseller  rather 
that  of  a scholar.  Such  persons  are  under  a great  tempta' 
tion  to  practi<3e  these  two  follies:  To  heap  up  a great  num- 

ber of  books  at  a greater  expense  than  most  of  them  can 
bear,  and  to  furnish  their  libraries  infinitely  better  than 
their  understanding;  and  when  they  have  gotten  such  rich 
treasures  of  knowledge  upon  their  shelves,  to  imagine 
themselves  men  of  learning,  and  take  a pride  in  talking  of 
the  names  of  famous  authors,  and  the  subjects  of  which 
they  treat,  without  any  real  improvements  of  their  own 


30 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


minds  in  true  science  or  wisdom.  At  best  their  learning 
reaches  no  further  than  the  indexes  and  tables  of  contents, 
while  they  know  not  how  to  judge  or  reason  concerning  the 
matters  contained  in  those  authors. 

And  indeed  how  many  volumes  of  learning  soever  a 
man  possesses,  he  is  still  deplorably  poor  in  his  understand- 
ing, until  he  has  made  those  several  parts  of  learning  hisi 
own  property, by  reading  and  reasoning,  by  judging  for  him- 
self, and  remembering  what  he  has  read. 


OE  SUBE  SECEETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


31 


CHAPTER  III. 


ucc(Z(zd  II)  j^usir)e-ss, 


“ In  battlp  or  business  whatever  the  game, 

In  law,  or  in  love,  it  is  ever  the  same; 

In  the  struggle  for  power,  or  scramble  for  pelf, 

Let  this  be  your  motto,  “Eely.  on  yourself.” 

For  whether  the  prize  be  a ribbon  or  throne, 

The  victor  is  he  who  can  go  it  alone.” 

— Saxe. 

HETHER  your  life  shall  be  successful  or 
not,  is  a question  which  may  be  answered  by 
yourself  alone.  It  cannot  be  done  by  proxy* 
Temperance,  frugality,  honesty,  and  economy,  ac- 
companied by  a strong  determination  and  per- 
severence,  coupled  with  the  power  of  personal  magnetism, 
will  bring  you  to  the  goal  of  success  and  prosperity, 
Nothing  else  will.  “Tha  longer  I live,”  said  Fowell  Bux- 
ton, ‘‘the  more  I am  certain  that  the  great  difference  be- 
tween men,  between  the  feeble  and  the  powerful,  the 
great  and  the  insignificant,  is  energy — invincible 

determination — a purpose  once  fixed,  and  then 

death  or  victory!  That  quality  will  do  anything  that  can 
be  done  in  this  world;  and  no  talents,  no  circumstances,  no 
opportunities,  will  make  a two  legged  creature  a man  with- 
out it.”  The  path  of  success  in  business  is  invaribly  the 
path  of  common  sense.  The  best  kind  of  success  in  every 
man’s  life  is  not  that  which  comes  by  accident,  and  “lucky 
hits”  often  turn  out  very  unlucky  in  the  end.  “We  may 
succeed  for  a time  by  fraud,  by  surprise,  by  violence,  but 


32 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


we  can  succeed  permanently  only  by  means  directly  oppo- 
site.” ^‘Honesty  is  the  best  policy,”  and  it  is  upheld  by 
the  daily  experience  of  liie;  uprightness  and  integrity  be- 
ing found  as  successful  in  business  as  in  everything  else. 
It  is  possible  that  the  scrupulously  honest  man  may  not 
grow  rich  as  fast  as  the  unscrupulous  and  dishonest  man, 
but  the  success  will  be  of  a truer  kind,  earned  without  fraud 
or  injustice.  And  even  though  a man  should  for  a time  be 
unsuccessful,  still  he  must  be  honest;  better  lose  all  and 
save  character.  For  character  is  itself  a fortune,  and  if  the 
highly  principled  man  will  hold  in  his  way  courageously, 
success  will  surely  come — nor  will  the  highest  reward  of  all 
be  withheld  from  him. 

Success  is  a science.  It  may  not  be  so  understood. 
With  a majority  of  failures,  why  should  it  be?  It  is  not 
found  in  the  gaining  of  millions,  for  many  a beggar  at 
heart  has  been  counted  by  the  world  as  wealthy.  And 
many  a rich  man  in  mind,  and  life,  and  enjoyment,  has  been 
considered  poor. 

All  we  can  go  by  outwardly  is  appearence.  The  doc- 
tors, lawyers  and  merchants,  build  up  their  custom  largely 
by  appearances  and  partly  by  being  what  they  claim  to  be. 

Life  is  its  own  success  or  its  own  failure.  The  lover 
of  a million  unknown  friends  is  less  favored  than  of  a hun- 
dred well  known.  A few  will  remember  us;  the  most  will 
forget  and  care  little;  but  of  the  few  who  do  remember, 
how  good  to  be  well  thought  of,  as  just,  as  upright,  as 
earnest,  as  original,  as  not  having  begged  our  way  through, 
but  given  to  the  world  some  fair  compensation  for  our  right 
to  a place  in  its  business. 

The  man  who  succeeds  is  the  popular  man  - the  person 
who  has  hosts  of  acquaintances,  and  who  does  not  hesitate 
ask  a favor,  any  more  than  he  does  to  do  one.  He  culti- 
vates his  acquaintances  and  blossoms  out  before  each  one. 


UBRARY 
Of  THE 

ci- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


33 


He  is  always  glad  to  see  them  and  always  has  a smile  and 
a pleasant  word. 

Beyond  a certain  point  he  is  intimate  with  none,  knowing 
that  a man  with  strong  friendships  is  sure  to  have  some  de- 
cided enemies  and  an  enmity  often  is  most  convenient- 
The  popular  man  knows  all  the  prominent  members  of  society 
but  he  never  neglects  those  who  fill  the  ranks  of  mediocrity; 
everything  that  comes  to  his  mill  is  grist. 

There  is  nothing  hypocritical  in  all  this.  The  popular 
man  is  what  he  seems  to  be.  He  wishes  well  to  ever) one, 
himself  included  and  he  would  do  no  one  an  ill  turn.  He 
wishes  no  one  to  do  him  harm.  His  desire  is  to  make  th  ngs 
pleasant  to  others,  that  others  may  make  things  pleasant  to 
him. 

What  he  does,  he  does  well,  no  matter  how  small  it  is. 
Such  a man  is  sure  to  command  success.  He  is  thorough 
and  can  be  depended  upon  in  purely  business  relations  and 
in  his  social  life  he  charms  and  attracts  his  acquaintances, 
so  that  everyone  wants  to  help  him. 

Women  smile  on  him  and  his  chances  of  marrying  well 
are  tenfold  better,  even  if  he  is  poor  than  that  of  a man 
possessing  riches  but  little  personal  magnetism. 

One  of  the  most  important  subjects  on  which  to  stand 
“just  right’*  is  the  matter  of  drinking,  for  of  all  the  terrible 
curses  that  have  destroyed  humanity,  intemperance  is  the 
most  fearful. 

There  is  no  sin  which  doth  more  deface  God’s  image  than 
drunkenness;  it  disguiseth  a person  and  doth  even  unman 
him.  Drunkenness  makes  him  have  the  throat  of  a fish, 
the  belly  of  a swine  and  the  head  of  an  ass.  Drunkenness 
is  the  shame  of  nature  the  extinguisher  of  reason,  the  ship- 
wreck of  chastity  and  the  murderer  of  conscience. 

Drink  perverts  the  appetite,  weakens  the  will,  debases 
the  moral  nature.  It  matces  a man  coarse,  brutal  and  repul- 


84 


HOW  TO  WIN 


sive  and  seems  to  cast  out  every  element  of  manliness  and 
principle  of  honor.  The  only  safe  rule  is  to  let  it  alone. 
If  there  is  not  sufficient  resolution  to  resist  the  first  glass, 
what  folly  to  suppose  that  the  tenth  or  the  fiftieth  can  be 
put  away,  when  the  habit  of  drinking  is  more  or  less  formed 
and  an  appetite  created. 

Young  man,  as  you  cherish  rll  the  fond  hopes  and  bright 
promises  of  your  youth;  as  you  value  the  lofty  aspirations  of 
your  manhood,  as  you  would  preserve  the  brain  to  conceive, 
the  will  to  direct  and  the  arm  to  execute  in  all  their  might 
as  God  has  given  them  to  you;  as  you  would  fill  your  obli- 
gations to  society  and  to  your  family,  as  you  spare  sorrow  to 
the  parents  who  lean  upon  you,  do  not  tamper  with  this  fear- 
ful vice. 

We  have  but  one  life  to  live,  a few  short  years  are  all  that 
is  allotted  us  in  which  to  show  of  what  stuff  we  are  made 
and  how  shall  we  acquit  ourselves  and  then  the  opportunity 
for  glorious,  heroic  action  is  over  forever,  the  harvest-time 
will  have  ended  and  the  night  will  have  come  when  no 
man  can  work. 

The  man  who  has  resolved  to  make  the  most  of  himself 
will  strive  to  develop  to  the  utmost  all  his  faculties  and  im- 
prove all  opportunities  for  honorable  advancement.  No  mat- 
ter if  he  is  not  gifted  with  genius,  no  matter  if  he  is  even 
below  the  standard  of  mediocrity,  he  will  be  lifted  up  into 
the  bracing  atmosphere  of  earnestness  and  roused  to  a life 
of  activity  and  devotion  to  duty. 

Then  strive  to  make  the  most  of  yourself,  however  un- 
promising you  may  be  in  yourself,  however  discouraging  your 
surroundings  and  dark  may  appear  yourfuture.  The  simple  re- 
solve on  your  part  to  do  this  will  give  you  strength  and  nerve 
you  with  new  courage  and  hope.  It  isencouragingtothedullest 
mind  to  see  what  pluck  has  done  in  spite  of  poverty,  obscurity 
and  the  most  unfavorable  cirumstances,  and  how  many  of  the 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


35 


tvorlds  best  workers  and  profoundest  thinkers  have  risen 
from  unpromising  beginnings. 

Young  man,  do  not  let  your  heart  sink  because  you 
have  never  seen  the  inside  of  a college,  and  possess  only  a 
>ommon-school  education;  because  you  seem  to  yourself  so 
lull  and  stupid,  compared  to  many  who  appear  quick- 
witted and  wise;  because  you  may  not  be  able  to  ’wear 
such  good  clothes,  or  have  not  the  easy  polished  address  of 
others  who  are  favorites  in  society;  because  your  arms 
seem  so  short,  and  the  prizes  of  life  so  high;  remember, 
that  thousands  have  started  in  the  world  witn  advantages 
infinitely  poorer  than  your  own,  and  yet  have  left  their 
names  and  deeds  on  the  roll  of  fame;  remember,  that  the 
very  struggles  and  obsticles  which  you  think  will  prevent 
you  from  rising,  are  the  tests  by  which  you  are  measured, 
and  if  you  have  not  the  pluck  and  bravery  to  grapple  with 
(them,  you  are  not  worthy  to  enter  into  the  company  of 
those  great,  great  souls,  who  have  won  the  victory. 

If  we  treat  others  with  due  respect,  and  with  manners 
cordial  and  frank,  we  are  paying  them  a compliment  which 
they  cannot  overlook.  We  show  that  we  have  a delicate 
consideration  for  their  feelings  and  pleasure,  and  that  we 
regard  them  worthy  of  our  confidence  and  esteem.  There 
are  few  natures,  if  any,  which  will  not  reciprocate  these 
feelings,  and  soon  assume  towards  us  the  same  attitude. 

A courteous  manner  has  been  the  means  of  bringing 
thousands  of  young  men  to  positions  of  honor,  wealth  and 
influence.  It  is  like  the  ^^sesame”  of  the  ancient  story, 
which  opens  otherwise  impassable  barriers. 

HOW  TO  GET  RICH. 

It  might  be  supposed,  from  the  comparatively  few  who 
become  rich,  that  there  is  some  mysterious  secret  which  is 
necessary  to  know  in  order  to  acquire  wealth.  This  is  a 


HOW  TO  WIK, 


6Q 

mistake,  unless  the  secret  lies  in  the  very  simplicity  of  the 
matter. 

Franklin  said,  that  ‘‘The  way  to  wealth  is  as  plain  as 
the  way  to  market.  It  depends  chiefly  on  three  words, 
industry,  frugality  and  economy;  that  is,  waste  neither 
time  nor  money,  but  make  the  best  use  of  both.  Without 
industry  and  frugality,  nothing  will  do,  and  with  them 
everything.” 

Spend  less  than  you  earn.  Take  this  rule  for  your^ 
guide,  and  it  will  lead  you  to  fortune.  There  are  hundreds 
of  men  who  have  been  receiving  princely  revenues  for  years 
but  who  still  remain  poor,  because  they  allow  their  expenses 
to  exceed  their  incomes. 

P.  T.  Barnum,  who  acquired  a large  fortune  by  his 
own  exertions,  and  who  has  had  an  extraordinary  oppor- 
tunity for  observation,  says,  that  the  way  to  get  rich  is 
quite  simple;  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  spend  less  than  you 
earn,  and  to  shun  “rum  and  tobacco.” 

The  men  who  amass  wealth  are  usually  men  of  integ' 
rity,  punctual  and  methodical  in  their  business  habits,  and 
rich  also  in  the  kindly  impulses  of  humanity  which  endear 
them  to  hosts  of  friends.  It  is  true  that  corrupt  men  some- 
times accum^ulate  wealth,  but  it  generally  slips  from  them 
in  the  end  or  soon  becomes  scattered.  The  only  wealth 
that  can  give  real  enjoyment  is  that  which  is  honestly 
obtained. 

But  it  is  impossible  for  every  man  to  be  a millionaire, 
although  he  have  all  the  qualities  and  virtues  which  have 
been  enumerated.  The  wealth  of  the  world  is  limited,  and 
where  there  is  one  millionaire  there  must  of  necessity  be 
thousands  of  men  in  moderate  circumstances.  Fortunately, 
true  r ches  are  not  dependent  on  the  accumilation  of  a 
certain  amount  of  money,  for  many  men  posessing  immense 
fortunes  have  fancied  themselves  on  the  wa}^  to  the  poor 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


37 


house  and  have  denied  themselves  the  common  necessities 
of  life. 

Said  a wise  man:  “I  take  him  to  be  a truly  rich  man 

that  lives  upon  what  he  has,  owes  nothing  and  is  conten- 
ted; for  there  is  no  fixed  sum  of  money,  nor  quantity  of 
estate  that  can  make  a man  rich,  since  no  man  is  truly  rich 
that  has  not  so  much  as  perfectly  satiates  his  desire  of 
having  more;  for  the  desire  for  more  is  want,  and  want  is 
poverty.” 

So,  though  it  be  impossible  for  every  man  to  acquire  an 
immense  fortune,  it  is  possible  for  him  to  become  rich 
in  this  true  sense  and  no  other  riches  are  worthy  of 
seeking. 

THE  SECRET  OF  SUCCESS. 

Although  there  is  no  privileged  road  which  leads  to 
success  in  life,  yet  it  is  interesting  and  instructive  to  gather 
hints  from  the  conspicuous  examples  of  those  who  have 
reached  that  desired  goal. 

It  is  said  that  Cornelius  Vanderbilt  on  being  asked  by 
a young  acquaintance,  who  was  admiring  his  sumptuous 
office,  how  he  had  managed  to  acquire  such  immense 
wealth,,  the  great  financier  looking  up  from  his  desk  and 
replied:  “By  minding  my  own  business  and  saying  nothing 
about  it.*’ 

With  industry  and  economy,  I entertain  strong  confi- 
dences that  you  will  succeed;  but  indolence  and  inattention 
will  be  sure  to  bring  ruin  and  disgrace. 

I beseech  you  therefore,  to  give  your  whole  attention  to 
your  business. 

Industry  and  economy  in  early  life,  unless  some  peculiar 
misfortune  overtake  you,  will  secure  you  support  and  enjoy- 
ment when  old  age  or  sickness  comes. 

“And  what  is  equally  important,  interest  and  enterprise 


38 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


insures  the  respect  of  your  fellow- citizens,  without  which 
life  is  scarcely  worth  preserving. 

Deal  justly  and  honestly  with  everybody.  Money 
costs  too  much  if  not  honestly  acquired. 

Treat  everybody  with  whom  you  have  business  with 
civilty  and  attention.  Kind  words  and  courteous  deport- 
ment are  essential  to  success  in  business. 

If  your  hands  can’t  be  usefully  employed,  attend  to 
the  cultivation  of  your  mind.  Always  speak  the  truth. 
Make  few  promises.  Live  up  to  your  engagements. 
Keep  your  own  secrets,  if  you  have  any.  When  you  speak 
to  a person,  look  him  in  the  face.  Good  company  and 
good  conversation  are  the  sinews  of  virtue.  Good  charac- 
ter is  above  all  things  else.  Your  character  cannot  be 
essentially  injured  except  by  your  own  acts.  If  any  one 
speaks  evil  of  you,  let  your  life  be  so  that  none  will  believe 
him.  Diink  no  kind  of  intoxicating  liquors.  Ever  liv® 
(misfortune  excepted)  within  your  income.  When  you 
retire  to  bed,  think  over  what  you  have  done  during  the 
day.  Make  no  haste  to  be  rich,  if  you  would  prosper 
Small  and  steady  gains  give  competency  with  a tranquil 
mind.  Never  play  at  a game  of  chance.  Avoid  tempta- 
tion, through  fear  you  may  not  withstand  it.  Earn  money 
before  you  spend  it.  Never  run  into  debt  unless  you  can 
see  a way  to  get  out  again.  Do  not  put  off  until  to- 
morrow that  which  should  be  done  to-day. 

The  following  shows  how  easy  it  is  to  accumilate  a 
fortune  providing  you  systematically  save  money.  The 
figures  show  what  would  be  the  result  at  the  end  of  fifty 
years  by  saving  a certain  amount  each  day,  and  putting  it 
at  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent: — 

One  cent,  $950.  Ten  cents,  $9,504.  Twenty  cents, 
$19,006.  Thirty  cents,  $28,512.  Forty  cents,  $38,015. 
Fifty  cents,  $47,520.  Sixty  cents,  $57,024.  Seventy 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


39 


cents,  $66,528.  Eighty  cents,  $75,032.  Ninety  cents, 
$85,537.  One  dollar,  $95,041.  Five  dollars,  $475,208. 

Nearly  every  person  wastes  enough  in  twenty  or 
thirty  years,  which,  if  saved  and  carefully  invested,  would 
make  one  quite  independent;  but  the  principle  of  small 
savings  has  been  lost  sight  of  in  the  general  desire  to 
become  wealthy  in  a short  time. 

THE  VALUE  OF  A COMPETENT  INSTRUCTOR. 

There  are  few  persons  of  so  penetrating  a genius,  and 
so  just  a judgment,  to  be  capable  of  learning  the  arts  and 
sciences  without  the  assistance  of  teachers.  There  is 
scarcely  any  science  that  is  properly  and  speedily  learned, 
even  by  the  noblest  genius  with  the  best  books,  without  a 
tutor.  Books  are  a sort  of  dumb  teachers:  they  point  out 
the  way  to  learning;  but  if  we  labor  under  any  doubt  or 
mistake,  they  cannot  always  answer  sudden  questions,  or 
explain  present  doubts  and  diflSculties:  this  is  properly  the 
work  of  a living  instructor. 

There  are  few  tutors  who  are  sufficiently  learned  to 
sustain  all  the  parts  and  provinces  of  instruction.  The 
sciences  are  numerous,  and  many  of  them  lie  far  wide  of 
each  other;  and  it  is  best  to  enjoy  the  instructions  of  two  or 
three  tutors  at  least.  Then  we  may  expect  that  each  will 
teach  the  few  parts  of  learning  which  are  committed  to  his 
care  in  greater  perfection.  But  where  this  advantage 
cannot  be  had  with  convenience,  one  superior  teacher  may 
supply  the  place  of  two  or  three  common  instructors. 

It  is  not  sufficient  that  instructors  be  skilful  in  those 
sciences  which  they  profess  and  teach;  thej  should  also 
have  skill  in  the  art  or  method  of  teaching,  and  patience 
in  the  practice  of  it.  There  are  some  very  learned  men, 
who  know  much,  yet  have  not  the  talent  of  communicating 
their  knowledge. 


40 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


A good  tutor  is  one  who  can  and  will  apply 
himself  with  diligence  and  concern,  and  indefatigable 
patience,  to  effect  what  he  undertakes:  to  teach  his 

students  and  see  that  they  learn;  to  adapt  his  way  and 
method,  as  near  as  may  be,  to  the  various  dispositions,  as 
well  to  the  capacities  of  those  whom  he  instructs,  and  to 
inquire  often  into  their  progress  and  improvement. 

And  he  should  take  particular  care  of  his  own  temper 
and  conduct,  that  there  be  nothing  in  him  or  about  him 
which  may  set  a bad  example;  nothing  that  may  savor  of  a 
haughty  temper,  or  a mean  and  sordid  spirit;  nothing  that 
may  expose  him  to  the  averson  or  to  the  contempt  of  his 
scholars,  or  create  a prejudice  in  their  minds  against  him 
and  his  instructions.  If  possible,  he  should  have  so  much 
of  a natural  candor  and  sweetness  combined  with  all  the 
improvements  of  learning,  as  may  convey  knowledge  to  the 
minds  of  his  students  with  a gentle  insinuation  and 
soverign  delight,  and  tempt  them  to  the  highest  improve- 
ment by  a resistless  and  insensible  force.  But  I shall  have 
occasion  to  say  more  on  this  subject. 

Let  the  learner  endeavor  to  maintain  an  honorable 
opinion  of  his  instructor,  and  heedfully  listen  to  his  instruc- 
tions, as  one  willing  to  be  lead  by  a more  experienced 
guide;  and  though  he  is  not  bound  to  accept  every  senti- 
ment of  his  tutor,  yet  he  should  so  far  comply  with  him  as 
to  resolve  upon  a just  consideration  of  the  matter,  and  try 
and  examine  it  thoroughly  with  an  honest  heart,  before  he 
presume  to  determine  against  him. 

It  is  a frequent  folly  in  students  to  fancy  themselves 
wiser  than  those  who  teach  them.  At  the  first  view,  or 
upon  a very  little  thought,  they  think  they  can  discern 
weakness  or  mistake  in  what  their  teacher  asserts,  and 
reject  at  once  sentiments  and  doctrines  which  their  teachers 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


41 


have  determined,  perhaps,  after  years  of  mature  study, 
careful  observation  and  much  prudent  experience. 

It  is  true  teachers  and  masters  are  not  infallible,  nor 
are  they  always  in  the  right,  and  it  must  be  acknowledged, 
it  is  a matter  of  some  difficulty  for  younger  minds  to  main- 
tain a just  veneration  for  the  authority  and  advice  of  their 
parents  and  the  instructions  of  their  tutors,  and  yet  at  the 
same  time  secure  to  themselves  a just  freedom  in  their  own 
thoughts. 

If  we  would  improve  our  minds  by  conversation,  it  is  a 
great  happiness  to  be  acquainted  with  persons  wiser  than 
ourselves  and  to  enjoy  their  conversation  frequently.  If 
they  happen  to  be  a little  reserved,  use  all  obliging  meth- 
ods to  draw  out  of  them  what  may  increase  your  own 
knowledge. 

If  you  happen  to  be  in  company  with  a merchant  or  a 
sailor,  a farmer  or  a mechanic,  lead  them  into  a discourse 
of  the  matters  of  their  peculiar  province  or  profession;  for 
everyone  knows,  or  should  know,  his  own  business  best. 
In  this  sense  a common  mechanic  may  be  wiser  than  the 
philosopher.  By  this  means  you  may  gain  some  improve- 
ment in  knowledge  from  everyone  you  meet. 

Confine  not  yourself  always  to  one  sort  of  company, 
or  to  persons  of  the  same  party  or  opinion,  either  in  matters 
of  learning,  religion  or  civil  life,  lest  if  you  should  happen 
to  be  educated  in  early  mistake,  you  should  be  confirmed 
and  established  in  it  by  conversing  only  with  persons  of 
the  same  sentiments.  A free  and  general  conversation 
with  men  of  various  countries  and  of  different  parties, 
opinions  and  practices,  so  far  as  it  may  be  done  safely, 
is  of  excellent  use  to  undeceive  us  in  many  wrong  judg- 
ments which  we  may  have  framed  and  to  lead  us  to  just 
thoughts. 

In  mixed  company,  among  acquaintances  and  strangers, 


42 


HOW  TO  WINj 


endeavor  to  learn  something  from  all.  Be  swift  to  hear; 
but  be  cautious  with  your  tongue,  lest  you  betray  your 
ignorance  or  offend  some  who  are  present.  The  Scriptures 
severely  censure  those  who  speak  evil  of  the  things  they 
know  not.  Acquaint  yourself  with  persons  and  parties 
which  are  far  distant  from  your  common  life  and  customs: 
this  is  a way  whereby  you  may  form  a wiser  opinion  of 
men  and  things.  Prove  all  things,  and  hold  fast  that 
which  is  good,  is  a divine  rule,  and  it  comes  from  the 
Father  of  light  and  truth. 

Be  not  frightened  nor  provoked  at  opinions  different 
from  your  own.  Some  persons  are  so  confident  they  are  in 
the  right  that  they  will  not  come  within  the  hearing  of  any 
notions  but  their  own:  they  have  their  little  province  in  the 
intellectual  world,  where  they  fancy  the  light  shines  while 
all  the  rest  is  in  darkness.  They  never  venture  into  the 
ocean  of  knowledge,  nor  survey  the  riches  of  other  minds, 
which  are  as  solid  and  useful,  and  perhaps  are  finer  gold 
than  what  they  ever  posessed. 

Believe  that  it  is  possible  to  learn  something  from 
persons  much  below  yourself.  We  are  all  shortsighted, 
and  our  views  are,  at  best,  narrow  and  limited.  We  often 
see  but  one  side  of  the  matter,  not  extending  our  sight  far 
enough  to  reach  every  thing  that  has  a connection  with 
the  thing  we  talk  of.  We  see  but  in  part,  and  know  but 
in  part;  therefore  it  is  no  wonder  that  we  do  not  form 
right  conclusions  Even  the  proudest  admirer  of  himself 
might  find  it  useful  to  consult  with  others,  though  of 
inferior  capability  and  penetration.  We  have  a different 
prospect  of  the  same  thing,  if  I may  so  speak,  according 
to  the  different  position  of  our  understandings  towards  it: 
a weaker  man  may  sometimes  light  on  notions  which  have 
escaped  a wiser,  and  which  the  wiser  man  might  make  a 
happy  use  of,  if  he  would  condescend  to  notice  them. 


f 


OB  SUBE  SECBETS  OF  SECCESS. 


48 


To  men  of  business  and  the  genera,’  public  I appeal 
and  especially  to  those  who  wish  to  apply  personal  magnet- 
ism to  business  purposes,  such  as  se  ling  goods,  obtaining 
the  confidence  of  the  community,  and  bettering  their  con- 
dition in  life  by  obtaining  wealth  and  consequent  pros- 
perity. 

A great  deal  has  been  written  by  interested  parties  on 
the  corruptibility  of  riches;  about  money  being  the  root  of 
all  evil;  that  riches  do  not  make  hapiness;  that  poor  people 
are  happier  than  rich;  that  gold  is  a curse,  and  the  cause  of 
crime  etc.  Now  all  this  looks  very  well  in  theory,  but  who 
among  my  readers  do  not  know  that  the  very  opposite  is 
the  result,  and  those  who  talk  so  much  and  preach  so  per- 
sistently on  the  curse  of  gold,  are  themselves  very  anxious 
to  secure  as  much  of  this  root  of  evil  as  possible  for  them- 
selves and  their  families.  Money  is  not  a curse  but  a 
blessing.  Riches  is  the  reward  of  mankind,  the  hope  of  all, 
and  providence  intended  it  to  be  so,  and  those  only  are 
happy  (as  far  as  happiness  in  this  world  goes)  who,  if  they 
are  not  exactly  rich,  have  at  least  a sufficiency  to  make 
them  contented.  Poverty  is  the  curse  of  the  world;  poverty 
is  nine  cases  out  of  ten  the  cause  of  crime;  poverty  fills 
our  prisons  and  alms  houses;  poverty  makes  a man  a forger, 
a drunkard  and  a murderer;  poverty  is  brutalizing  in  its 
effects,  makes  good  men  bad  ones,  and  takes  the  crown  of 
innocence  (woman’s  virtue)  from  a pure  heart,  leaving  in 
place  shame,  disgrace,  agony,  indignation,  broken  hearts? 
and  often  the  death  of  the  unfortunate  victims  themselves. 
The  theif  and  criminal  were  born  such;  and  the  poor,  be- 
trayed, outraged — unfortunate — little  more  very  often, 
than  a child  in  years,  nestled  once  in  its  mother’s  arms, 
pure  and  innocent  as  the  white  robed  angels,  who  sing 
before  the  throne  of  God.  What  made  the  one  a murderer, 
another  a thief  and  so  on  through  the  whole  catalogue  of 


44 


HOW  TO  WIN 


crime?  I say,  poverty,  will  be  as  a rule,  the  general 
answer.  The  rich,  by  nature,  are  ’^no  better  than  the  poor, 
but  they  have  not  the  temptation  to  steal,  having  plenty 
without;  they  are  surrounded  with  riches,  luxury  refine- 
ment, learning,  intelligence  and  the  fine  arts  and  they 
have  no  inducement  to  commit  robbery  and  crime.  Pov- 
erty makes  men  coarse,  vulgar,  profane,  brutal  and  lost  to 
all  shame,  while  on  the  contrary  wealth  is  a civilizer,  refines 
the  mind  by  education  and  those  elegant  surroundings 
that  money  only  can  purchase. 

To  understand  Personal  Magnetism,  is  to  understand 
how  to  secure  wealth  and  happiness,  and  is  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  all  classes  of  the  community. 

A concentration  of  a positive,  controlling  will  on  a 
person  passive  and  consequently  easily  impressed,  will  do 
more  in  selling  goods,  obtaining  favors  and  gaining  confi- 
dences, than  the  combined  efforts  of  a dozen  men,  who  use 
only  argument  and  obliging  manners.  The  clergyman  can 
accomplish  more  good  to  his  congregation  by  Personal 
Magnetism  than  by  mere  persuasive  or  theological  discus- 
sions! The  physician  can  benefit  his  patient  in  many 
cases,  more  by  his  influence  than  by  medicine,  and  the 
parent  can  use  it  so  as  to  benefit  both  himself  and  his 
entire  family. 

If  you  are  to  be  a salesman  or  solicitor,  your  power 
lies  in  your  ability  to  influence  others.  Anybody  can  sell 
to  a man  who  wants  to  buy.  He  would  buy  anyway. 
Your  success  lies  in  your  power  to  infuse  in  others  a 
desire,  and  thus  create  a demand  for  your  goods. 

Some  people  seem  naturally  endowed  with  a peculiar 
magnetic  force.  Many  such  exercise  over  their  fellows  an 
irresistible  power  We  say  they  are  full  of  Personal 
Magnetism,  and  wonder  how  they  get  it.  Such  persons 
seem  naturally  to  possess  a hypnotic  power.  By  their 


OB  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


45 


forcible  way  of  doing  things  they  also  possess  a great  deal 
of  suggestive  power.  It  all  comes  of  enthusiasm,  energy 
and  concentration  of  mind,  with  a consequent  clearness  of 
thought  and  conception,  which  may  be  easily  acquired  by 
anyone  possessing  our  great  secrets  as  taught  in  the  full 
course  in  Vital  and  Mental  or  Personal  Magnetism. 

We  all  Lave  this  force  latent  in  us.  All  it  needs  is 
developement.  Without  enthusiasm,  energy  and  concen- 
tration of  thought  and  steadfastness  of  purpose  our  best 
efforts  can  but  be  insipid  and  impotent.  The  philosophy 
of  ones  influence  over  others  lies  in  a close  study  of  human 
nature,  personal  magnetism,  a deep  concentration  of  pur- 
pose, a ceaseless  application  to  business  and  an  everlasting, 
unconquerable  persistance  maintained  by  full  confidence  in 
self,  spurred  on  by  limitless  ambition  and  encouraged  by  a 
strong  hope. 

Exercise  your  will  power,  for  ‘‘where  there’s  a will 
there’s  a way.”  Never  think  you  cannot.  Never  allow 
yourself  to  be  governed  by  circumstances,  but  make  cir- 
cumstances to  suit  yourself. 

Study  the  actions  of  persons  who  are  successful,  and 
who  control  and  govern  by  the  will;  hold  up  your  head  and 
try  to  imitate  them. 

Recollect  that  humility  is  a virtue  only  when  it  does 
not  allow  you  to  be  trampled  under  foot. 

All  the  elements  which  form  a good  and  attractive 
character  are  essential  to  the  art  of  pleasing.  In  business 
affairs  we  delight  to  deal  with  men  in  whom  we  fir'd 
integrity.  Truth  is  so  naturally  pleasing  that  we  derive 
great  satisfaction  from  an  honest  character.  Should  you 
be  suspected  of  injustice,  malignity  perfidy,  lying,  etc., 
all  the  graces  and  knowledge  of  the  world  will  never  pro- 
cure you  esteem,  friendship  and  respect.  The  first  of  the 
requisites  in  our  intercourse  with  the  world,  and  the  chief 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


giviris^  pleasure  to  those  with  whom  we  associate,  is 
inviolable  sincerity  of  heart,  coupled  with  a knowledge 
of  the  power  of  exerting  personal  magnetism. 

Would  you  posess  this  grand  gift,  whereby  you  may 
rise  to  pre-eminence  and  be  known  as  the  owner  of  a 
master  mind?  W ould  you  step  out  from  the  rank  and  file 
of  the  mediocrists  and  brain  workers?  If  so,  the  road  is  a 
short  and  easy  one.  If  you  would  travel  it — if  you  would 
be  a pilgrim  to  the  shrine  of  success — read  the  prospectus 
in  the  latter  part  of  this  book,  and  then  “mark,  learn,  and 
inwardly  digest”  what  you  have  read.  Think  over  the 
contents  of  this  book;  follow  out  other  thoughts  it  may 
suggest;  then  act  according  to  your  own  good  judgment. 
If  it  has  caused  you  to  think,  its  mission  has  been  accom- 
plished. 

In  conclusion:  everything  to  prove  beneficial  must  be 
especially  adapted  to  the  characteristics  of  each  individual. 
There  is  no  balm  in  Gilead,  potent  enough  to  cure  all 
evils  or  to  accomplish  unanimously  good  results,  without 
special  and  personal  instructions  suited  to  each  individual’s 
sex,  age,  condition,  temperament,  occupation  and  general 
natural  abilities,  which  guarantees  to  all  a successful 
accomplishment  of  this  great  work.  For  this  reason  you 
can  readdy  see  that  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  pub- 
lish in  book  form  general  instructions  that  would  give  the 
most  important  secrets  of  the  art. 

This  is  what  makes  our  plan  especially  valuable,  as  it 
deals  privately  with  you  and  for  you,  giving  you  only  such 
methods  as  will  positively  make  you  successful  in  the 
shortest  possible  time.  Men  who  have  made  their  names 
imperishable  for  all  time  are  those  whose  “personal  mag- 
netism,” and  whose  ability  to  read  character  was  cultivated 
in  the  highest  degree.  Such  knowledge  is  not  born  in  one, 
any  more  than  is  the  learning  of  the  scientist  or  great  jurist 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


47 


or  philosopher;  it  is  acquired  by  study  and  observation  and 
experiment.  Those  who  are  competent  to  read  character 
from  faces,  fascinate  and  comprehend  the  motives  and 
springs  of  human  conduct  at  a glance,  are  like  the  skillful 
general  who  knows  the  position  of  the  enemy  and  strength 
of  his  equipment,  and  can,  therefore,  determine  when  and 
where  to  move  his  forces  and  operate  to  any  advantage. 

There  are  few  persons  of  so  penetrating  a genius,  and 
so  just  a judgment,  as  to  be  capable  of  learning  the  arts  and 
sciences  without  the  assistance  of  teachers.  There  is  scarcely 
any  science  that  is  properly  and  speedily  learned,  even  by  the 
noblest  genius  with  the  best  books,  without  a tutor.  Books 
are  a sort  of  dumb  teacher  •,  they  point  out  the  way  to 
learning ; but  if  we  labor  under  any  doubt  or  mistake,  they 
cannot  always  answer  sudden  questions,  or  explain  present 
doubts  and  difficulties  : this  is  properly  the  work  of  a living 
instructor. 

A good  tutor  is  one  who  can  and  will  apply  himself 
with  diligence  and  concern,  and  indefatigable  patience,  to 
effect  what  he  undertakes  ; to  teach  his  students,  and  see 
that  they  learn  ; to  adapt  his  way  and  method,  as  near  as 
may  be,  to  the  various  dispositions,  as  well  as  to  the  capaci- 
ties of  those  whom  he  instructs,  and  to  inquire  often  into 
their  progress  and  improvement. 

And  he  should  take  particular  care  of  his  own  temper 
and  conduct,  that  there  be  nothing  in  him  or  about  him 
which  may  set  a bad  example;  nothing  that  may  savor  of  a 
haughty  temper,  or  a mean  and  sordid  spirit;  nothing  that 
may  expose  him  to  the  aversion  or  to  the  contempt  of  his 
scholars,  or  create  a prejudice  in  their  minds  against  him 
and  his  instructions.  If  possible,  he  should  have  so  much 
of  a natural  candor  and  sweetness  combined  with  all  the 


48 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


improvements  of  learning,  as  may  convey  knowledge  to  the 
minds  of  his  students  with  a gentle  insinuation  and  sovereign 
delight,  and  tempt  them  to  the  highest  improvement  by  a 
resistless  and  insensible  force.  Bat  I shall  have  occasion 
to  say  more  on  this  subject. 

Let  the  leaxner  endeavor  to  maintain  an  honorable 
opinion  of  his  in^tractor,  and  heedfully  listen  to  his  instruc- 
tions, as  one  willing  to  be  led  by  a more  experienced  guide; 
and  though  he  is  not  bound  to  accept  every  sentiment  of  his 
tutor,  yet  he  should  so  far  comply  with  him  as  to  resolve 
upon  a just  consideration  of  the  matter,  and  try  and  examine 
it  thoroughly  with  an  honest  heart,  before  he  presume  to 
determine  against  him. 

If  we  would  improve  our  minds  by  conversation,  it  is  a 
great  happiness  to  be  acquainted  with  persons  wiser  than 
ourselves,  and  to  enjoy  their  conversation  frequently.  If 
they  happen  to  be  a little  reserved,  use  all  obliging  methods 
to  draw  out  of  them  what  may  increase  your  own  knowl- 
edge. 

When  a man  speaks  with  much  freedom  and  ease,  and 
gives  his  opinion  in  the  plainest  language  of  common  sense, 
do  not  presently  imagine  you  shall  gain  nothing  by  his  com- 
pany. Sometimes  you  will  find  a person  who,  in  his  con- 
versation or  his  writings,  delivers  his  thoughts  in  so  plain, 
so  easy,  so  familiar  and  perspicuous  a manner,  that  you  both 
understand  and  assent  to  everything  he  says,  a^  fast  as  you 
read  or  hear  it;  hereupon  some  hearers  have  been  ready  to 
conclude  in  haste.  Surely  this  man  says  none  but  common 
things;  I knew  as  much  before,  or  I would  have  said  all  this 
myself.  This  is  a frequent  mistake. 


The  Goddess  Hygeia. 


LIRRS.RY 
OF-  THE 

rr  v 

U>  <•  </  « • Wi  <)  . 


•ur-jois 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  oF  SUCCESS. 


49 


And  be  careful  always  to  remember  Solomon’s  rule, 
and  let  a speaker  fairly  finish  before  you  reply;  “ for  he  that 
answereth  a matter  before  he  heareth  it,  it  is  folly  and  shame 
unto  him.” 

As  you  should  carry  about  with  you  a constant  and 
sincere  sense  of  your  own  ignorance,  so  you  should  not  be 
afraid  nor  ashamed  to  confess  this  ignorance,  by  taking  all 
proper  opportunities  to  ask  and  inquire  for  further  informa- 
tion. - Never  remain  in  ignorance  for  want  of  asking. 

Many  a person  might  have  arrived  at  a considerable 
degree  of  knowledge,  if  he  had  not  been  full  of  self-conceit, 
and  imagined  that  he  knew  enough  already,  or  else  was 
ashamed  to  let  others  know  that  he  was  ignorant.  God  and 
man  are  ready  to  teach  the  meek  and  the  humble;  but  he 
that  fancies  himself  to  know  any  particular  subject  well,  or 
that  will  not  venture  to  ask  a question  about  it,  is  not  likely 
to  put  himself  into  the  way  of  improvement  by  inquiry  and 
diligence.  A fool  may  be  ‘‘  wiser  in  his  own  conceit  than 
ten  men  who  can  render  a reason;”  and  such  a one  is  very 
likely  to  be  always  a fool. 

Take  heed  of  affecting  always  to  shine  in  company 
above  the  rest,  and  to  display  the  riches  of  your  own  under- 
standing or  your  oratory,  as  though  you  would  render  your- 
self admirable  to  all  that  are  present.  This  is  seldom  well 
taken  in  polite  company  : much  less  shoul  1 you  use  such 
forms  of  speech  as  would  insinuate  the  ignorance  or  dullness 
of  those  with  whom  you  converse. 

When  you  are  in  company  talk  often,  but  never  long. 
In  that  case^  if  you  do  not  please  you  are  sure  not  to  tire 
your  hearers.  There  are  many  persons  who,  though  they 
have  nothing  to  talk  of,  never  know  when  to  leave  off  talk- 
ing. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


HOW  TO  SUCCEED  IN  LOVE. 

•‘Man’s  love  is  of  man's  life  a thing  apart, 

’Tis  woman’s  whole  existence." 

—Byron's  Don  Juan. 

“ With  easy  freedom  and  gay  address, 

A pressing  lover  seldom  wants  success." 

-Rowe 


SOVE  SURPASSES  ALL  THE  OTHER  human  pas- 
sions.  All  ages  prove  this,  by  having  justly  christened 
it  ‘‘  the  one  grand  master-passion.”  Other  things 
awaken  enthusiasm,  this  rises  to  a passion,  and  renders  many 
fairly  mad.  Even  sharp  commercial  men,  who  know  how 
to  get  over  one  hundred  cents’  worth  out  of  every  dollar 
used,  often  literally  squander  money  on  women  they  love. 
What  consumes  as  much  of  human  time  and  means?  Men 
spend  freely  on  religion,  politics,  vanities,  drink,  etc.,  but 
on  what  half  as  freely  as  on  Love?  Even  the  untold  sums 
lavished  on  the  female  toilet  and  fashions  are  only  so  much 
spent  to  make  women  captivating  and  enamouring  to  man. 
Love,  or  desire  to  awaken  it,  prompts  all.  How  many  men, 
women,  farmers,  mechanics,  workmen,  merchants,  literati, 
adventurers,  etc.,  work  with  might  and  main,  suffering 
untold  pains  and  privations,  to  make  money  solely  to  expend 
on  Love  in  some  form — on  wives,  daughters,  husbands,  sons, 
“ mistresses,”  balls,  parties,  or  their  paraphernalia,  etc. 
Men  spend  freely  on  what  yields  them  most  pleasure,  and 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


01 


the  amount  spent  on  this  sentiment,  throughout  all  its  forms 
— conjugal,  illicit,  and  the  family — fairly  admeasures  its 
relative  power  over  them.  Then  what  human  Faculty  con- 
sumes equal  means?”  Church-goers  go  to  see  and  be 
seen  by  the  opposite  sex  more  than  to  worship.  Let  each 
iex  worship  separately  and  few  would  go  at  all,  and  those 
soon  return  disappointed.  The  untold  sums  spent  on 
church  toilets  have  their  chief  object,  not  increased  Wor- 
ship, for  one  can  pray  as  fervently  in  homespun  as  in  bro- 
cade, and  without  jewelry  as  with,  but  to  appear  charming 
and  captivating  to  the  other  sex.  Not  that  we  oppose  Love 
going  to  church ; for  it  has  as  good  a right  there  as  Wor- 
ship ; and  young  folks  to  court  going  home  from  meeting 
Sunday  evening,  as  from  singing-school  or  party  ; yet  Love 
goes  there  the  most. 

WHAT  ONE  LIFE  EMOTION  ever  took  a hold  so 
deep,  or  wielded  a power  half  as  magical  over  your  soul,  or 
permeated  the  very  rootlets  of  your  entire  being,  as  did 
your  Love?  Wherever  you  went  it  followed  you.  What- 
ever you  did  it  haunted  you,  or  compelled  you,  willing  or 
unwilling,  to  succumb  to  its  power,  and  muse  night  and 
day  on  your  loved  one?  What  equally  revolutionized  your 
whole  life,  or  ever  made  you  half  as  happy?  How  infat' 
uated,  spellbound,  and  perfectly  beside  themselves,  it 
always  renders  its  “love-sick”  victims!  To  enforce  its 
necessity  by  repeating  its  rationale. 

Capacity  to  love  and  awaken  this  tender  passion  is  as 
much  a gift,  a real  genius,  as  any  other  ; and  the  basis  of 
all  conjugal  excellence.  On  it  rests  the  entire  superstruct- 
ure of  wedlock.  Out  of  it,  like  limbs  and  fruit  from  their 
trunk,  grow  all  marital  virtues  and  enjoyments. 


52 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


LOVE  IS  STRONGER  IN  SOME,  AND  WEAKER 
IN  OTHERS.  As  some  excel  in  one  gift,  yet  lack  another, 
are  good  in  music,  but  poor  in  figures,  etc.,  so  this  loving, 
lovable  capacity  is  strong  in  some,  but  weak  in  others. 
The  difference  between  different  persons  in  this  respect  is 
indeed  heaven-wide.  Those  in  whom  it  is  large  and  normal 
instinctively  make  good  husbands  and  wives  without  effort, 
yet  those  who  lack  it  make  poor  ones,  though  they  try  their 
best.  A man  ever  so  industrious,  steady,  provident,  liberal, 
pious,  moral,  intelligent,  etc.,  if  this  Faculty  is  weak,  is 
only  a poor,  commonplace  husband,  unloving  and  unloved  ; 
comparatively  soulless,  withered,  barren,  indifferent,  cold- 
hearted,  rigid,  uncouth,  and  cares  little  for  woman  in  gen- 
eral, or  wife  in  particular,  and  is  cared  little  for  by  either  ; 
while  he  in  whom  it  is  healthy  and  normal  is  like  a per- 
petually overflowing  fountain,  constantly  bubbling  up  with 
sparkling  waters  of  conjugality.  He  loves  woman  in  gen- 
eral, and  wife  in  particular,  which  both  awakens  their  love, 
and  teaches  him  instinctively  just  how  to  comport  himself 
toward  both.  He  is  all  warmth,  glowing,  gushing,  and  rich 
in  all  masculine  attributes  ; while  he  in  whom  it  is  deficient 
is  unmanned,  emasculated  in  soul  and  body,  and  propor- 
tionally worthless  as  a husband. 

A WOMAN  whose  Love  is  weak  is  cold,  spiritless, 
passive,  tame  and  barren  in  all  feminine  attractions  and 
virtues  ; half  dead  and  alive  ; like  leather  as  compared 
with  skin,  having  the  female  groundwork,  but  lacking  its 
life  and  soul ; may  indeed  be  a great  worker  and  a good 
housekeeper  ; the  kindest  and  best  of  neighbors  ; refined, 
proper  and  much  besides  ; but  will  be  barren  in  womanli- 
ness, and  therefore  lack  this  one  thing  needful  in  conju- 
gality, this  very  heart’s  core  of  female  nature  and  the  lova- 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS, 


53 


ble  wife.  Though  good  in  all  other  respects,  yet  as  a wife 
proper  she  is  proportionally  good  for  nothing.  I would 
as  soon  marry  a post  as  her,’’  said  a well-sexed  man  of  an 
extra  nice,  refined,  intellectual,  squeamish,  unmarried 
woman  of  thirty,  in  whom  this  Faculty  was  wanting. 

How  HSfFlNlTELY  GLORIOUS  this  loving,  lovable 
capacity!  What  sacrifices  for  its  object  it  inspires!  What 
faults  it  hides!  What  virtues  it  develops!  What  other 
felicity  equals  it!  What  ecstasy  as  ecstatic!  What  a zest 
it  imparts  to  every  other  life  function  and  enjoyment! 
What  joy  in  being  loved!  Girl,  you  little  realize  the 
intrinsic  worth  of  that  tender  regard  for  you  existing  in 
your  lover’s  soul,  or  you  would  not  trifle  with  it.  No  emo- 
tion, not  even  worship,  is  any  more  sacred.  Ye  who  have 
never  loved  stand  aside,  for  novices  are  counted  out ; as  are 
ye  who  have  loved  only  indifferently.  But  all  ye  who  have 
loved  HEARTILY,  was  not  that  love-season  your  most 
sacred  life-epoch?  Were  you  not  regenerated  by  it?  Not 
sprinkled,  but  baptized  ALL  OVER.  To  love  and  be 
loved  tamely,  passively,  is  something  ; but  to  love  and  be 
loved  with  a whole-souled  and  a POWERFUL  affection,  is 
life’s  most  luxurious  and  delicious  feast  perpetually  served 
up.  Have  and  prize  musical  gift,  poetical  talent,  or  any 
other  you  may  possess  ; but  to  whatsoever  other  gift  I 
possess  let  me  superadd  an  intense,  a doting- devoted 
LOVE-NATURE,  and  a lovable  object.  Be  rich,  yet  un- 
loving, if  you  will,  but  let  »ME  be  affectionate,  though  poor. 
Give  me  a clear  head  along  with  a warm  heart,  yet  if  but 
one,  the  warm,  doting,  loving  heart  first. 

LOVE  ! How  inexpressibly  sacred!  Less  so  than 
divine  worship  only.  What  other  human  emotion  except 
divine  worship  penetrates  quite  as  deeply  into  the  very 


54 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


rootlets  and  soul  of  numan  existence  as  does  this  tender 
sentiment?  For  what  does  a man  launch  out  so  freely 
as  to  the  devoted,  affectionate,  responsive  wife  whom  he 
loves  so  tenderly  and  devotedly?  She  usually  gets  more 
of  his  time,  money,  feelings  and  affection  generally,  than 
does  his  Saviour,  though  that  is  not  quite  right. 

The  practical  importance  of  this  problem  is  almost 
infinite,  because  the  lessons  it  teaches  are  proportionately 
valuable.  None  more  so.  It  teaches  men  how  to  render 
themselves  acceptable  to  women  and  women  to  men;  any 
given  man  how  to  fascinate  the  woman  he  selects,  and  any 
woman  just  what  to  do  and  how  to  feel  and  act,  what  traits 
to  manifest  and  what  not,  in  order  to  make  herself  lovely 
and  loved,  selectable  and  selected  in  marriage — girls,  old 
maids,  how  munh  is  all  that  worth? — the  married  know  how 
to  retain  each  other's  affections,  and  by  converse  what  dis  • 
pleases  and  alienates,  and  many  other  like  invaluable 
lessons. 

LOVE’S  MESSENGER  IS  MAGNETIC,  because  love 
itself  is;  as  is  also  that  life  it  initiates.  Cupid’s  darts 
are  not  material  forms,  faces  eyes,  tones,  etc.,  because  its 
work  is  not.  Magnetism  is  the  more  immediate  instrument 
of  life,  and  its  two  positive  and  negative  forces  obviously 
embrace  its  modus  operandi  of  both  its  creation,  and  all  its 
functions,  thus: 

TWO  BODIES  POSITIVELY  CHARGED  REPEL 
each  other,  as  do  two  negatively;  while  one  positive 
mutually  attract. 

The  male  is  positive,  the  female  negative;  and  their 
Love  consists  in  their  mutual  attraction,  which  is  greater  or 
less  as  each  is  more  or  less  magnetically  charged,  abso- 
lutely, and  as  regards  each  other.  Two  men  may  love 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


65 


each  other,  so  may  two  women  when  one  is  strongly  mas- 
culinized, takes  mostly  after  father,  and  the  other  strongly 
feminized.  A man  and  a woman  both  strongly  masculine 
or  feminine  may  dislike  each  other,  at  least  feel  no  mag- 
netic attraction,  because  both  are  positive  to  each  other,  or 
both  negative  ; but  one  fully  masculine  and  the  other 
feminine  will  be  powerfully  attracted  to  each  other. 

Falling  in  Love  is  perfectly  explainable  on  this  mag- 
netic theory,  but  on  no  other.  To  meet  at  a party,  in 
church,  or  steamboat,  and  instantly,  on  sight,  mutually 
become  perfectly  smitten,”  ‘‘  mashed,”  ‘‘  electrified,” 
‘‘enamoured,”  “ Love-struck,”  “dead  in-Love.”  Mutually 
“ delighted  ” is  too  tame  to  express  their  passion ; for  their 
delight  in  each  other  is  ecstatic.  Each  electrifies  the  other 
from  head  to  foot,  physically  and  spiritually.  Neither  ever 
felt  anything  like  it.  Their  two  entities  rush  together  and 
blend  like  positive  and  negative  galvanic  forces,  enraptur- 
ing both.  Their  very  proximity  thrills  each  other,  because 
their  magnetisms  are  interchanged  through  air  Each  spell- 
binds and  is  spell-bound  by  the  other.  Both  embarrass 
and  are  embarrassed  by  the  other,  perhaps  too  much  for 
utterance.  Both  were  full  of  this  Personal  Magnetism, 
which  both  gave  off  and  received  from  the  other. 

ALL  MEN,  ALL  WOMEN  HAVE  SOME  of  this 
Personal  Magnetism, 

If  two  of  opposite  sex  are  well  charged  and  take  hands, 
each  can  distinctly  feel  a magnetic  current  streaming  up 
their  own  arms  and  shoulders  ; each  giving  and  receiving 
it,  to  their  mutual  benefit.  This  male  and  female  magnet- 
ism is  the  soul  of  gender,  and  its  interchange,  in  which 
loving  consists,  is  Nature’s  creative  instrumentality. 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Novels  describe  it ; but  what  predecessor  or  contem- 
porary has  ever  before  - - touched  its  analysis?  Mark 
how  many  love  Facts  it  explains  and  lessons  it  teaches. 

Throw  yourself,  O courting  youth,  upon  your  own 
interior  sense  of  propriety  and  right,  as  to  both  the  begin- 
ning and  conducting  of  courtship,  after  learning  all  you  can 
of  Personal  Magnetism  and  have  no  fears  as  to  results,  but 
quietly  bide  them,  in  the  most  perfect  assurance  of  their 
happy  eventuality! 

CULTIVATE  AND  MANIFEST  WHATEVER 
QUALITIES  YOU  WOULD  AWAKEN.  You  inspire 
in  the  one  you  court  the  precise  feelings  and  traits  you 
yourself  experience.  This  law  effects  this  result.  Every 
Faculty  in  either  awakens  itself  in  the  other.  This  is  just 
as  sure  as  gravity  itself.  Hence  your  success  must  come 
from  within,  depends  upon  yourself,  and  not  the  one  courted. 
MEN  can  le  irn  in  j ist  what  attributes  in  them  ‘Hake 
with  women  in  general,  and  their  own  admired  one  in  par- 
ticular ; while  women  are  told  in  what  traits  in  them  awaken 
masculine  appreciation  and  Love. 

ANY  MAN  WHO  CAN  BEGIN  to  elicit  any  woman’s 
Love  can  perfectly  infatuate  her  more  and  more,  solely  by 
Personal  Magnetism  ; and  all  women  who  once  start  a 
man’s  Love — no  very  difficult  achievement — can  get  out  of 
him,  and  do  with  him,  anything  possible  she  pleases.  The 
charming  and  fascinating  power  of  serpents  over  birds  is  as 
nothing  compared  with  that  a woman  can  wield  over  a man 
and  he  over  her.  Ladies,  recall  your  Love  heyday.  You 
had  your  lover  perfectly  spell-bound.  He  literally  knew 
not  what  he  did  or  would  do. 

The  love-making  art  which  can  effect  all  this  and  much 
more,  thus  becomes  well  worth  knowing ; yet  is  on©  of 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


5^ 


' cfae  lost  arts.”  Since  the  art  of  gallantry  is  thus  valuable, 
how  much  more  that  of  Love-making? — only  its  perfection. 

DISSEMINATING  SCIENTIFIC  KNOWLEDGE 
concerning  this  much  joked-about  subject  of  Love-making 
thus  becomes  a work  of  philanthropy  and  social  reform  far 
transcending  all  others. 

Why  not  give  and  take  lessons  in  courtship  as  much 
as  in  music  or  grammar?  Is  it  less  important?  Parents 
should  teach  their  children  early,  and  those  taught  by  sad 
experience  ” should  instruct  those  not  yet  maritally  spoiled. 

ABOUT  WINNING  THE  AFFECTIONS  OF  THE  OPPOSITE 
SEX,  AND  A HAPPY  MARRIAGE. 

It  would  be  a waste  of  words  to  insist  on  a truth  which 
all  sensible  people  admit  without  argument,  that  marriage 
is  the  natural  relation  of  the  sexes.  Ever  since  the  begin- 
ning of  time,  the  philosophers,  sages,  historians,  romancers 
and  poets  have  endeavored  to  explain  the  subtle,  mysteri- 
ous influence  which  draws  or  inclines  two  of  the  opposite 
sex  toward  each  other  in  a mystic  unity  of  mutual  prefer- 
ence  and  favor,  until  in  the  expressive  language  of  Holy 
Writ, ‘‘ the  twain  become  one  flesh.”  Mingling  with  the 
first  breezes  of  Paradise,  laden  with  the  first  fresh  perfumes 
of  Eden,  glowing  with  the  beauteous  hues  of  Eve’s  first 
blush  when  Adam  whispered  words  of  rapture  in  her  ear — 
one  sentiment,  one  passion  pervades  all  animated  nature, 
which  the  whole  world  recognizes  by  one  sweet  word  only 
— and  that  word  is  love.  The  inspired  poets  have  vied 
with  each  other  for  many  ages  in  profusion  and  opulence  of 
description  endeavoring  to  convey  in  language  the  peculi- 
arities of  intense  affection — the  thoughts  which  crowd  the 


58 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


brain  when  proffered  love,  accepted  and  requited^  is  sealed 
by  “ one  long-  kiss,  the  kiss  of  youth  and  love,”  But, 
while  we  know  that  there  are  very  many  separate  exis^^nces 
which  naturally  glide  together — as  naturally  as  moon- 
beams meet  the  sea — yet  there  are  innumerable  instances 
of  those  whose  blissful  experience  after  marriage  shows  that 
they  were  manifestly  intended  for  each  other,  and  made  to 
make  each  other  happy;  and  still,  were  it  not  that  some  in- 
fluence, unknown  to  one  of  them,  had  brought  them  to- 
gether, they  would  forever  have  remained  unmarried.  And 
I will  here  state,  since  there  are  thousands  who  are  prob- 
ably unacquainted  with  the  fact,  that  there  is  now  claimed 
to  be  a Secret  of  winning  (for  any  one  who  may  wish)  the 
sincere  and  unchanging  affection  of  any  one  of  the  opposite 
sex  whose  love  may  be  desired.  This  extends  not  only  to 
the  single  of  either  sex  who  love  and  would  have  that  love 
returned,  with  a view  of  being  united  in  wedlock;  but  it  is 
also  equally  potent  to  reconcile  and  make  happy  those  who 
have  loved,  wooed  and  married,  and  between  whom  there 
may  be  unhappy  differences,  quarrels,  or  matrimonial  cool- 
ness and  dislike.  Personal  Magnetism  enables  the  opera- 
tor to  acquire  the  necessary  controlling,  positive  mind, 
while  the  one  on  whom  it  is  to  be  tried,  and  whose  affec- 
tions or  confidence  you  wish  to  gain,  being  ignorant  of  the 
operator  intending  to  subject  them  to  this  mighty  influence 
is,  as  a matter  of  necessity,  quite  passive,  and  easily  con- 
trolled, receiving  an  impression  of  love,  esteem,  confidence 
or  respect,  by  the  use  of  which  men  and  women  can  gain 
the  sincere  and  undivided  affection  of  each  other  perma- 
nently, and  that  is  all  that  ought  to  be  required.  In  love- 
matters,  therefore,  it  should  never  be  used  with  improper 
motives.  A poor  male  may  quickly  win  the  permanent  af- 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


59 


fections  of,  and  marry  a wealthy  lady  upon  whom  he  may 
rest  his  affections,  and  in  spite  of  any  resistance.  And  so 
may  a lady  thus  win  a husband,  and  this,  I say,  is  enough, 
without  using  this  wonderful  combination  of  natural  forces 
for  licentious  or  improper  motives.  But  I am  advising 
the  people  to  do  good — I really  have  no  other  object 
in  offering  personal  magnetism  to  the  public.  I know, 
from  a profound  experience,  that  these  arts  will  do  much  in 
establishing  among  men  the  sublime  doctrine  of  love  one 
another,”  or,  which  is  the  same  thing,  love  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself.” 

You  can  be  successful  in  all  matters  regarding  busi- 
ness, courtship,  marriage,  etc.;  how  a man  can  obtain  the 
love  of  a woman,  or  the  woman  that  of  the  man;  how  to 
make  any  one  act  just  as  you  desire  them  to  do;  also,  how 
to  accomplish  all  wonderful  things. 

It  speedily  dispels  all  nervous  fear,  awakens  the  slug- 
gish lover,  quickens  the  unappreciating  friend,  removes  the 
bashfulness  of  the  maiden,  develops  the  heart-strings  equal 
to  love,  makes  the  rough  path  of  peevish  nature  even,  and 
opens  in  each  breast  a little  heaven.  To  wives  who  feel  or 
fear  their  husband’s  love  decay,  it  commends  itself  beyond 
all  words.  To  lovers,  or  those  who  would  be  loved,  its  si- 
lent influence  is  hourly  exerted  with  the  happiest  results. 
Its  effects  are  irresistible.  To  those  who  mourn  an  absent 
dear  one  its  effect  is  like  a soothing  balm.  No  walk  in  life 
so  gloomy,  no  nature  so  uncouth,  no  heart  so  pulseless,  as 
not  to  acknowledge  the  sunshine  of  its  presence. 

It  has  often  been  said  personal  magnetism  can  be  used 
for  bad  or  wicked  purposes.  To  this  I would  say,  so  can 
everything  else  in  nature;  fire  can  be  used  to  destroy  prop- 
erty,  poison  to  destroy  life,  wine  and  spirits  to  intoxicate, 


60 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


and  so  on.  But  this  is  no  argument.  We  should  not  be 
restricted  in  their  proper  use,  or  discard  them  because  ot 
their  sometimes  dangerous  properties.  Personal  magnet- 
ism cannot  be  used  for  evil  purposes  more  than  any  other 
science.  A good,  correct  person  will  not  use  any  thing 
improperly,  and  a bad  one  can  only  be  restrained  by  the 
fear  of  the  consequences  which  civilization  and  law  impose 
on  evil  doers. 

The  great  cause  of  unmarried  adults  in  Christian  com- 
munities is  owing  to  the  difficulties  young  people  experi- 
ence in  endeavoring  to  procure  partners.  There  is,  in  fact, 
no  bachelor  who  has  been  so  from  choice,  and,  in  nine  out  of 
ten  cases,  the  reasons  he  will  give  you  for  his  celibacy  are 
not  the  true  causes. 

By  far  the  greater  number  of  old  bachelors  has  been 
occasioned  by  circumstances  which  have  kept  them  aloof 
from  female  society,  or  the  bashfulness  which  would  never 
permit  them  to  bring  a lady  to  the  simple  answer  of  Yes  ” 
or  “ No.” 

I have  known  young  men  with  every  advantage  of 
person  and  fortune  to  be  deeply  in  love,  but  who,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  backwardness  in  revealing  their  passion, 
have  waited  until  some  person  without  the  moiety  of  their 
deserts,  but  with  a stock  of  assurance,  carried  away  the  ob- 
ject of  their  affections. 

Again,  ladies  are  obliged  to  remain  single  for  the 
want  of  an  opportunity  to  procure  husbands.  This  is  gen- 
erally owing  to  the  selfishness  of  parents,  who  exclude 
young  men  from  their  house,  except  those  too  insignificant 
to  win  their  daughter’s  affections,  till  at  last  the  lady  is 
compelled  to  remain  single  or  favor  her  inferiors. 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


61 


Homeliness  of  person  is  never  the  cause  of  want  of 
partners,  for  every  age  has  its  model,  and  fancies  are  as 
various  as  are  the  peculiar  notions  of  individuals. 

Although,  as  I have  previously  remarked,  personal 
beauty  is  not  essential  to  a successful  conquest,  cleanliness 
and  a careless  comeliness  with  comely  care  ” most  unmis- 
takably are.  No  lady  would  admire  a slovenly  swain,  with 
a bad  breath  and  dirty  teeth;  and  with  a gentleman  vice 
versa.  It  is  decidedly  unromantic  to  press  even  very 
pretty  lips  in  the  ardor  of  a kiss,  if  the  ivory  they  curtain  is 
coated  with  a yellow  incrustation,  which  gives  a sewer  fra- 
grance to  the  breath. 

Women  are  very  often  led  away  by  the  belief  that  the 
possession  of  beauty  is  indispensably  necessary  to  win  the 
love  of  man,  but  this  has  been  proved  to  be  a very  erro- 
neous idea. 

That  beauty  is  all-powerful  to  attract  no  one  will  at- 
tempt to  deny,  and  in  society  the  owner  of  the  fairest  face 
undoubtedly  gains  the  largest  share  of  admiration,  but  the 
admiration  is  not  love,  and  the  man  who  has  been  a devoted 
worshipper  at  beauty’s  shrine  for  years,  very  frequently  at 
last  falls  really  and  passionately  in  love  with  a girl  whose 
plainness  of  feature  makes  it  a matter  of  wonderment  to 
the  world  as  to  what  he  could  possibly  have  seen  in  her  to 
admire,  and  yet  this  is  not  by  any  means  an  uncommon  in- 
stance. 

“ Beauty  is  but  skin  deep  ” is  a saying,  the  truth  of 
which  no  one  will  deny,  and  if  a woman  depends  upon  her 
beauty  alone  to  retain  her  husband’s  love  she  holds  that 
love  by  a frail  thread  indeed,  and  the  day  may  not  be  far 
distant  when  the  good  looks  upon  which  she  prides  herself 
may  be  lost. 


62 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


We  do  not  wish  our  fair  readers  to  suppose  we  do  not 
admire  beautiful  women,  nor  should  we  attempt  to  censure 
those  who  strive  to  improve  their  appearance;  rather,  on 
the  other  hand,  should  we  advise  that  every  effort  should  be 
tried  to  ^o  so,  for  in  many  instances,  women  after  marriage 
lose  a great  deal  of  the  desire  they  formerly  possessed  to 
look  as  well  as  possible  in  their  husband’s  eyes. 

Beauty  alone,  though  it  may  attract  attention,  nay^ 
inspire  love,  cannot  retain  a heart  by  its  power  alone.  It 
is  well  known  that  the  handsomest  men  are  not  always 
those  who  are  most  admired  by  women;  it  is  Personal 
Magnetism,  not  looks,  that  is  attractive  to  the  fair  sex,  and 
it  is  the  same  with  men. 

The  science  of  Personal  Magnetism  thus  presented  is 
the  first  development  and  presentation  of  such  a science. 
Fragmentary,  incomplete  and  incorrect  investigations  of 
portions  of  this  field  of  science  have  heretofore  produced 
sciences  and  theories  which  have  been  called  Cerebral 
Localization,  Animal  Magnetism,  Hypnotism,  Delsartian 
Philosophy  or  Psycology.  We  correct  the  errors  of  these 
systems  and  add  new  sciences,  making  a harmonious 
whole. 

A knowledge  of  this  wonderful  power  will  be  of  im- 
mense value  to  all  classes.  The  merchant  in  selling  goods 
and  gaining  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  the  community. 
To  the  LOYER,  to  gain  the  affections  of  his  sweetheart;  and 
the  LADIES,  to  secure  the  love  and  esteem  of  men.  We  tell 
you  how  to  proceed  in  order  to  best  accomplish  these  re- 
sults. We  are  pleased  to  say  that  the  plan  of  instruction 
followed,  which  we  believe  to  be  the  best  possible  one, 
while  it  produces  the  results  desired,  it  at  the  same  time 
develops  the  health  and  character  of  the  student. 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


63 


Old  age  seldom  mars  personal  charms  if  the  cycle  of 
time  has  not  robbed  his  or  her  natural  adornments.  Let 
him,  therefore,  who  would  win  the  fair  hand  of  the  lady  he 
loves,  in  addition  to  a proper  comeliness  of  apparel,  endea- 
vor to  show  a manly  face,  a cleanly  mouth,  and  an  unblem- 
ished skin.  A female,  too,  should  avail  herself  of  every 
invention  of  art  to  preserve  those  ornaments  which  the  God 
of  Nature  originally  bestowed  upon  her. 

Do  not  hastily  misjudge  and  despise  small  matters. 
Trifles,  my  friends,  are  not  to  be  despised  with  impunity, 
for  they  oftentimes  make  or  mar  a human  being’s  destiny. 
We  know  that  all  great  discoveries  and  inventions  have 
been  originated  by  the  merest  of  trifles,  the  paltriest  of  ac- 
cidents. An  apple  falling  suggested  to  Sir  Isaac  Newton 
his  invaluable  discovery  with  regard  to  the  laws  of  gravita- 
tion. The  telescope  was  suggested  by  the  accidental 
placing  of  a couple  of  pieces  of  glass  together  in  an  opti- 
cian’s shop,  and  a careless  examination  of  them  in  that  acci- 
dental position  by  a lounging  apprentice  boy.  Trifles  form 
the  material  of  everything  vast.  The  coral  reefs  and  is- 
lands of  the  seas  are  the  work  of  animalculae  scarcely  per- 
ceptible to  the  naked  eye.  The  globe  itself  is  formed  of 
atoms.  If  you  disregard  trifles  you  will  never  become 
prominent  or  important  in  any  degree,  but  will  vegetate 
like  a plant,  and  die  alone,  unloved  and  uncared  for.  Life 
is  no  trifle,  but  it  is  a conglomeration  of  trifles.  Look, 
therefore,  upon  the  ‘‘  day  of  small  things  ” with  a watchful 
an  earnest  and  a curious  eye.  A spark  fires  a train  of  gun- 
powder and  blows  up  a city.  A mouse,  remember,  freed 
the  netted  lion.  In  all  the  little  details  and  minutiae  which 
I am  constrained  to  relate  to  you,  and  impress  upon  your 
attention,  there  lurks  a great  consequence — there  lingers 


HOW  TO  WIN* 


a gigantic  end.  It  is  happiness;  that  which,  to  the  unre* 
flective  and  the  ignorant,  seems  an  unattainable  shadow. 
But  there  is  nothing  so  easily  obtained,  if  pursued  in  the 
right  way,  as  happiness.  The  old  saying  has  it,  “ keep 
your  feet  warm  and  your  head  cool  and  defy  the  physician*’' 
There  is  an  equal  amount  of  substantial  truth  in  my  theory, 
viz.:  preserve  your  health,  acquire  Personal  Magnetism, 
win  the  woman  you  love,  if  possible,  and  make  yourself  as 
agreable  in  looks  as  care  and  ingenuity  will  allow  you* 
This  will  enable  you  to  win  and  retain  the  aff3ctions  of  the 
one  you  adore,  and  will  make  you  hosts  of  friends  beside. 
What  more  is  requisite  to  attain  perfect  contentment.  How 
strange  it  is  that  simple  truths,  so  plain  and  ingenuous  that 
a child  can  appreciate  them  to  their  full  extent,  escape  the 
knowledge  of  nine -tenths  of  mankind!  How  remarkable 
that  the  first  intimation  you  have  ever  had  of  their  force 
and  value  is  received  from  the  pages  of  this  humble  vol- 
ume! Verily,  we  walk  in  darkness  in  the  midst  of  light! 
Aaron  Burr,  one  of  the  greatest  of  reprobates,  completely 
and  most  desperately  infatuated  a great  number  of  the 
“first,”  most  aristocratic,  refined,  intelligent,  and  pious 
ladies;  rendering  them  literally  beside  themselves,  and 
always  enamoured  every  lady  he  met.  His  biographer  has 
more  than  once  advertised  to  publish  the  love-letters  Burr 
received  from  these  ladies,  which  were  the  most  meiting 
and  loving  imaginable,  but  was  each  time  deterred  by 
threats  that  if  he  di<l  he  would  be  murdered.  They  well 
remembered  how  spellboud  Burr  had  rendered  them,  and 
how  exstatic  their  expressions  of  Love.  Why?  Simply 
because  the  extreme  and  intensity  and  power  of  Personal 
Magnetism  in  him  enimoured  them.  Here  is  a masculo- 
feminine  law.  We  have  given  its  rationale. 


The  Soul’s  Awakening. 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 
univzBSiTV  G? 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


65 


Natural  laws  govern  all  Nature,  and  reduce  all  they 
govern  to  eternal  right.  Therefore  Love,  by  being  one  of 
her  departments,  is  reduced  by  its  governing  laws  to  the 
same  scientific  rules  to  which  mathematical  and  other 
natural  laws  reduce  whatsoever  appertains  to  either. 

COURT  SCIENTIFICALLY  THEN,  all  ye  who 
court  at  all.  Bungle  whatever  else  you  will,  but  do  not 
dare  bungle  courtship:  because  its  right  management  will 
conduct  all  to  that  happiest  issue  of  life,  a happy  marriage ; 
v/hilst  its  wrong  is  commensurately  disastrous.  Its  august 
mission  is  to  establish  between  two  that  eternal  affiliation 
which  will  ever  constitute  them  ‘‘  one  flesh  ” cement  each 
other’s  affections  past  all  possibility  of  future  rupture;  and 
render  them  one  in  object,  doctrine,  feeling,  spirit,  every* 
thing. 

ITS  BEGINNING  is  equally  regulated  by  these 
laws;  so  that  all  the  power  wielded  by  Love  over  man 
barely  admeasures  the  blessings  conferred  by  its  right 
initiation,  and  the  miseries  inflicted  by  its  wrong.  Indeed, 
its  first  stage  is  by  far  its  most  eventful,  for  good  and  evil. 
When  begun  and  conducted  just  right  it  waxes  better  and 
better?  but  worse  and  worse  when  started  wrongly.  SO 
COMMENCE  BY  RULE,  and  learn  how  beforehand. 
Personal  Magnetism  as  taught  by  us,  should  be  your  guide. 

Generally  speakings  both  sexes  are  desirous  of  enter- 
ing the  matrimonial  state;  but,  considering  the  hundreds  of 
thousands  who  wear  out  a lonely  and  miserable  existence 
as  old  maids  and  bachelors,  it  becomes  quite  evident  that 
there  is  something  wrong  in  the  existing  state  of  society, 
which  debars  so  many  respectable  persons  from  marital 
felicity,  and  the  remedy  for  all  these  disappointments  we 
undertake  to  point  out,  and  that  remedy  is  Personal  Mag- 


66 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


NETiSM,  one  of  the  most  simple  and  wonderful  sciences  in 
mental  nature,  enabling  the  possessor  of  it  to  fascinate, 
CONTROL  the  MIND  and  win  the  love  and  affection  of  an- 
other. It  is  very  simple  and  easily  performed,  and  is  as 
RELIABLE  AS  ANY  OTHER  KNOWN  PRINCIPLE  OF  SCIENCE.  It 
is  nothing  new,  as  many  suppose,  but  was  known  and  prac- 
ticed centuries  ago,  though  looked  upon  as  the  effects  of 
magic  and  supernatural  agency,  and  it  has  only  been 
within  the  last  few  years  that  this  extraordinary  power  has 
been  rightly  understood  and  reduced  to  the  unerring 

PRINCIPLES  OF  SCIENCE. 

We  claim  that  this  science  is  the  principle  of  all  at- 
traction. We  also  claim  to  possess  the  ability  of  impart- 
ing TO  others  this  power  of  fascination,  and  enable  either 
sex,  arrived  at  the  age  of  puberty,  to  fascinate  and  win  the 
UNDYING  LOVE  and  affection  of  another.  Faithless  lovers 
can  thus  be  reclaimed,  friendships  cemented,  confidence 
established,  and  general  happiness  secured.  The  condi- 
tions are  simple  and  easily  understood,  so  that  any  ordinary 
intelligent  person  may  comprehend,  acquire  and  exert 
this  extraordinary  power,  and  gain  the  affections,  love,  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  another,  making  that  person  love  and 
admire  you  more  than  any  one  else  in  the  world. 

This  no  is  abstract  theory,”  but  a reliable 
SCIENCE,  producing  these  results  as  a matter  of  neces- 
sity, the  SUCCESS  of  which  WE  WILL  GUARANTEE.  A 
moment’s  reflection  will  clearly  show  the  great  and  CER- 
TAIN advantages  that  can  be  obtained  through  a knowl- 
edge of  this  wonderful  science. 

It  may  be  asked  if  all  are  possessed  of  this  science,  why 
are  not  all  successful.  I answer,  all  are  possessed  of,  but 
few  are  aware  of  it,  and  of  course  do  not  understand  its  usCf 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


67 


Sympathy  often  produces  a strong  attraction  between 
two  persons  who  see  each  other  for  the  first  time.  Neither 
of  them  can  explain  it,  but  both  feel  it,  and  thus  love  at 
first  sight  is  no  fancy,  but  a reality.  It  arises  from  a pleas- 
ing correspondence  between  the  magnetic  influences  of  the 
parties,  and,  when  this  is  the  case,  it  is  as  durable  as 
strong.  Nay,  it  is  well  known  that  there  are  many  persons 
who  frequently  quarrel  after  being  long  together,  yet  are 
quite  wretched  if  separated,  and  infallibly  come  together, 
till  a new  quarrel  again  forces  them  asunder,  again  to  feel 
miserable  apart. 

Not  only  do  such  sympathies  exist,  but  there  are  an- 
tipathies equally  strong.  Every  one  must  have  seen  or  felt 
the  repulsion  exercised  on  himself  or  others  by  certain  individ- 
uals, which,  even  in  spite  of  reason,  often  continues  for  life. 

There  are  many  who  possess,  either  naturally  or 
through  cultivation,  an  abundance  of  Personal  Magnetism, 
which  renders  them  irresistibly  winning,  and  this  charm  is 
not  derived  from  mere  beauty,  for  it  is  not  an  unusual  case 
to  find  a beautiful  person  lost  to  a certain  extent  beside 
one  who  is  possessed  of  the  charm  we  speak  of. 

By  following  our  instructions  as  given  in  rules  for 
acquiring  and  exerting  Personal  Magnetism,  lovers  will  be 
rewarded  with  that  greatest  blessing — true  love  on  the 
part  of  those  upon  whom  they  have  cast  their  affections  5 
and  a life  of  domestic  happiness  will  reward  them. 

We  could  never  weary  of  dwelling  upon  this  theme, 
knowing  as  we  do  the  importance  which  attaches  to  it,  for 
the  subject  cannot  be  overrated,  and  where  true  love  exists, 
there,  undoubtedly,  will  a happy  home  be  found,  and  the  chil- 
dren of  such  a union  will  grow  up  to  respect  those  who  have 
shown  such  wisdom  in  the  management  of  their  own  affairs. 


CHAPTER  V. 


HOW  TO  SUCCEED  IN  SOCIETY. 

“ Society  is  now  one  polish’d  horde, 

Form’d  of  two  mighty  tribes,  the  Bores  and  Bor’d.” 

-—Byron  . 

tN  society,  each  individual  is  esteemed  in  proportion 
to  the  pleasure  he  bestows  on  others  ; or,  in  other 
^ words,  to  the  extent  he  renders  himself  agreeable  ; and 
hence,  every  person  desires  to  possess  as  pleasing  an  address 
and  manner  as  possible.  We  are  conscious  of  pleasure 
when  we  listen  to  refined  conversation,  or  behold  elegant 
manners,  or  when  we  think  others  observe  them  in  our- 
selves. This  pleasure  is  the  origin  and  chief  bond  of  polite 
intercourse.  The  elegant  and  refined  are  always  sought  by 
those  of  like  sentiments,  because  both  are  mutually  made 
happier.  As  , = has  been  well  said,  “ good  manners  are  a 
perpetual  letter  of  introduction.” 

On  the  other  hand,  want  of  politeness  is  always  re- 
garded as  discreditable.  Wealth  or  family  influence  may 
introduce  an  unpolished  person  to  the  cultivated,  but  he  is 
simply  tolerated,  not  welcomed.  He  is  not  welcomed,  be- 
cause he  cannot  add  to  their  peculiar  pleasure.  And  more 
than  this,  the  rudeness  and  awkwardness  of  the  ill-mannered 
strike  so  harshly  upon  refined  sensibilities  as  to  be  positively 
disagreeable.  The  exclusiveness,  therefore,  of  polite  society 
is  nothing  more  than  the  exclusion  of  those  who  are  likely 

68 


SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


69 


to  add  nothing  to  its  pleasure,  or  whose  rudeness  would 
destroy  it.  The  doors  to  social  elegance  are  open  wide, 
and  a welcome  awaits  every  one  who  is  capable  of  aug- 
menting social  pleasure. 

But  there  is  much  indistinctness  and  error  in  the  pop- 
ular opinion  of  the  nature  of  politeness,  and  consequent 
misapprehension  of  its  proper  culture.  It  is  regarded  more 
as  a gift  of  nature  than  as  an  acquirement  obtained  by 
effort ; more  as  an  acconplishment  of  body  than  of  mind. 

We  shall  find,  however^  upon  examination,  that  polite- 
ness is  as  truly  an  acquisition  to  be  gained  by  study  and 
effort,  as  is  the  ability  to  produce  good  music.  In  either 
case  the  natural  talent  may  be  more  or  less  developed,  but 
in  both  alike  must  there  be  a clear  knowledge  of  principles, 
and  the  application  of  them  with  faithful  and  assiduous 
practice.  To  look  for  politeness  from  the  careless  and  in- 
attentive, is  as  irrational  as  to  look  for  music  from  one  that 
never  touched  an  instrument. 

Politeness  is  good-nature  expressed  with  refinement. 

From  this  definition  it  appears  that  politeness  in- 
volves two  elements — a state  of  mind  and  a mode  of  ex- 
pression. 

It  is  a mistake  to  consider  politeness  as  having  refer- 
ence only  to  the  mode  of  expression  or  address.  That  mere 
ceremonious  attention,  however  unexceptionable,  is  not  ac- 
cepted as  genuine  courtesy,  is  evident  from  the  terms  ap- 
plied to  it.  It  is  characterized  as  hollow,  insincere,  or 
forced.  We  accept  nothing  as  courteous  which  is  wanting 
in  heart,  nothing  done  for  mere  show.  Every  act  which 
would  lay  claim  to  being  polite  must  be  prompted  by  an 
obliging  disposition. 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


70 

To  acquire  this  good-nature,  this  obliging  disposition, 
some  attention  to  our  modes  of  thought  and  feeling  is 
requisite. 

One  of  the  first  elements  of  good-nature  is  generosity — 
a regard  for  others.  A generous  nature  esteems  the  happi- 
ness of  another  equally  with  its  own  ; and  where  all  have  a 
common  right,  is  willing  that  others  should  share  equally 
with  itself.  It  cannot  enjoy  a pleasure  purchased  at  the 
expense  of  another.  Whilst  seeking  its  own  happiness,  it 
cannot  be  unmindful  of  that  of  its  fellows-  It  stands  in 
entire  contrast  to  the  spirit  which  is  ever  looking  for  self  ; 
which  never  cares  for  others,  never  sacrifices  a pleasure  in 
their  behalf,  never  accommodates  itself  to  others ; which 
wants  the  first,  the  best,  and  the  most ; which  loves  “ the 
uppermost  rooms  at  feasts,  and  chief  seats  in  the  syna- 
gogues.” Such  a spirit  is  utterly  repugnant  to  true  notions 
of  politeness.  We  can  grant  no  approval  to  actions 
begotten  of  such  sentiments,  however  graceful  and  punc- 
tilious. 

But  more  than  this:  true  generosity  is  not  satisfied 
with  simple  justice,  with  merely  giving  others  an  equal 
opportunity  ; it  takes  a pleasure  in  assisting  them  in  their 
purposes  and  pursuits.  It  is  not  indifferent  to  the  success 
or  failure  of  an  individual,  because  a stranger  ; it  is  re- 
gardful of  the  wants  of  the  weak,  the  infirm,  and  the  help- 
less; and  finds  its  own  reward  in  the  attempt  to  make 
others  happier. 

Such  generous  consideration  for  others  always  chal- 
lenges our  admiration  and  esteem.  We  feel  it  to  be  the 
offspring  of  a noble  heart.  It  needs  but  to  express  itself 
gracefully  to  win  the  meed  of  true  courtesy. 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


71 


We  must  exercise  ^ue  care,  however,  that  this  interest 
for  our  fellow-beings  does  not  degenerate  into  inquisitive- 
ness or  meddlesomeness.  Assisting  them  in  their  present 
circumstances  does  not  imply  any  right  of  inquiry  into  their 
personal  history  or  their  future  plans.  Who  an  individual 
may  be,  what  his  business,  whence  he  came,  or  whither  he 
is  going,  is  no  part  of  our  concern,  unless  such  information 
is  directly  connected  with  the  assistance  we  propose  to 
render. 

If  a gentleman  should  assist  an  invalid  or  a lady  in 
alighting  from  a rail-car,  he  might  with  great  propriety  ask 
if  he  could  be  of  any  further  service ; but  it  would  be 
great  rudeness,  on  no  other  acquaintance,  to  make  inquiry 
as  to  their  names  or  businesSo 

Learn  not  to.  be  disturbed  at  the  minor  faults  of  in- 
dividuals. No  human  being  is  perfect.  We  have  our 
faults,  others  have  theirs.  We  must  excuse,  as  we  hope  to 
be  excused.  We  shall  every  day  meet  many  disagreeable 
things,  even  in  our  best  friends.  It  is  a great  lesson  to 
learn  not  to  see  them. 

Special  care  should  be  taken  never  to  observe  personal 
deformities  or  defects.  A person  may  unfortunately  pos- 
sess some  irregularity  of  shape,  of  limb  or  face,  or  some 
peculiarity  of  manner  or  speech.  To  permit  our  attention 
to  be  drawn  to  any  such  singularity  is  highly  discourteous, 
while  to  make  it  the  subject  of  remark,  would  be  an  inex- 
cusable incivility. 

Polite  society  is  concerned  only  with  the  good,  the 
desirable,  and  the  agreeable  in  persons  and  circumstances  : 
the  discovery  of  faults  and  errors,  and  their  correction,  is 
not  its  province,  but  rather  that  of  the  tutor  and  the  mor- 
alist^ 


72 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


The  second  point  to  be  considered  is  the  attainment  of 
refined  expression  or  address. 

One  of  the  most  important  considerations  in  this  re* 
spect  is  artlessness,  or  naturalness.  Simple  and  unaffected 
language  and  manners  are  always  pleasing.  We  should 
aim  to  say  what  seems  fitting  to  the  time  and  place,  in  the 
easiest  and  simplest  way,  selecting  the  best  and  most  deli- 
cate words  in  good  use  ; or  if  anything  is  to  be  done,  to  do 
it  in  the  readiest,  quietest,  and  most  unobtrusive  manner. 

Especially  is  display  to  be  avoided — the  saying  or 
doing  of  anything  to  attract  attention.  High-sounding 
words,  lofty  expressions,  great  parade  of  learning,  or  flourish 
of  manners,  are  accepted  as  evidence,  not  of  good  culture, 
but  of  want  of  it.  Many  a youth  has  been  spoiled  by  trying 
to  appear  hig ; aud  many  a Miss,  by  trying  to  appear  nice. 
The  one  leads  to  a ridiculous  pomposity,  the  other  to  a silly 
afiPectedness.  It  is  unobtrusive  worth,  not  glitter,  that  wins 
everlasting  esteem.  Never  attempt  to  appear  any  thing 
more  nor  better  than  you  are.  Be  your  best,  and  then  do 
your  best. 

If  we  would  learn  the  use  and  command  of  refined 
expression,  we  must  practice  it  constantly  in  our  daily  in- 
tercourse. It  is  idle  to  think  of  being  polite  in  the  parlor 
to  guests,  if  we  are  not  so  to  our  companions  in  our 
private  apartments.  If  our  common  modes  of  address  are 
rude  and  unpolished,  if  our  language  is  low  or  vulgar,  all 
attempts  at  elegance  will  be ‘but  awkward  and  ilh  concealed 
efforts  to  appear  what  we  are  not.  Make  it  a rule  to  be  as 
decorous  towards  friends  and  home  companions  as  you 
desire  to  be  to  strangers  and  guests. 

Regard  well  the  language  and  manners  of  those  whose 
society  seems  particularly  a^<^^ble.  Notice  their  modes 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


73 


of  thought,  their  happy  turns  of  expression,  their  readiness 
to  find  some  good  in  every  individual  and  occurrence,  the 
ease  with  which  they  adapt  themselves  to  the  peculiarities 
of  every  one,  the  pleasure  which  every  little  attention  gives 
them,  and  their  avoidance  of  fault-finding  or  criticism.  By 
accustoming  ourselves  to  observe  these  excellencies  in 
others,  we  shall  learn  to  imitate  them  in  our  own  conduct. 

If  the  laws  of  reason,  decency,  and  civility  have  not 
been  well  observed  amongst  your  associates,  take  notice  of 
those  defects  for  your  own  improvement;  and  from  every 
occurrence  of  this  kind  remark  something  to  imitate  or  to 
avoid,  in  elegant,  polite,  and  useful  conversation.  Perhaps 
you  will  find  that  some  persons  present  have  really  dis- 
pleased the  company,  by  an  excessive  and  too  visible  an 
affectation  to  please;  that  is,  by  giving  loose  to  servile 
flattery  or  promiscuous  praise:  while  others  were  as  ready 
to  oppose  and  contradict  everything  that  was  said. 

Some  may  have  deserved  just  censure  for  a morose  or 
affected  taciturnity,  and  others  have  been  anxious  and  care- 
ful lest  their  silence  should  be  attributed  to  a want  of  sense, 
and  therefore  they  have  ventured  to  make  speeches,  though 
they  had  nothing  to  say  which  was  worth  hearing.  Perhaps 
you  will  observe  that  one  was  ingenious  in  his  thoughts,  and 
bright  in  his  language,  but  he  was  so  full  of  himself  that  he 
spoke  too  long,  and  did  not  allow  equal  liberty  or  time  to 
his  associates. 

You  will  remark  that  another  was  full  charged  to  let 
out  his  words  before  his  friends  had  done  speaking,  or 
impatient  of  the  least  opposition  to  any  thing  he  said.  You 
will  remember  that  some  persons  have  talked  at  large  and 
with  great  confidence  of  things  which  they  understood  not. 
and  others  counted  everything  tedious  and  intolerable  that 


t4 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


was  spoken  upon  subjects  of  their  sphere,  and  they  would 
fain  confine  the  conference  entirely  within  the  limits  of 
their  own  narrow  knowledge  and  study.  The  errors  of 
conversation  are  almost  infinite. 

By  a review  of  such  irregularities  as  these  you  may 
learn  to  avoid  the  follies  which  spoil  good  conversation,  or 
make  it  less  agreeable  and  useful.  By  degrees  you  will 
acquire  that  delightful  and  easy  manner  of  address  and 
behavior  which  will  render  your  company  everywhere  de- 
sired and  beloved. 

PRACTICAL  HINTS  ON  BEHAVIOR. 

Propriety  of  deportment  always  has  reference  to  the 
occasion  and  the  person  with  which  it  is  associated.  What 
may  be  entirely  suited  to  one  occasion,  or  to  one  person, 
may  be  quite  out  of  place  under  other  circumstances. 

I.  Behavior  towards  Superiors. 

First.  Towards  the  Divine  Being. 

All  civilized  beings  recognize  the  goodness  of  the 
Giver  of  life  and  all  its  blessings.  They  recognize,  also, 
the  sentiments  of  thankfulness  and  gratitude  as  among  the 
noblest  implanted  in  the  human  heart.  Worship  is  our 
expression  of  this  grateful  feeling.  Its  modes  may  be 
various,  according  to  the  differing  tastes  and  judgments  of 
men;  but  in  every  case  it  is  the  expression  of  the  same 
sentiment.  And  hence,  whatever  may  be  the  form,  it  has 
always,  everywhere  among  enlightened  people,  been  entitled 
to  the  highest  respect. 

1.  Let  whatever  may  seem  to  you  most  appropriate  as 
worship  be  done  with  decency  and  becoming  attention.  To 


Oil  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


•?5 

engage  in  conversation  during  a service  of  prayer,  to  gaze 
around  over  the  audience,  or  to  sit  or  lounge  upon  the  floor 
under  pretence  of  kneeling,  are  violations  of  the  decencies 
of  the  occasion. 

2.  Let  the  acts,  the  forms,  the  ceremonies  of  others, 
even  those  distasteful  to  yourself,  be  treated  v^ith  the  same 
respectful  consideration  you  ask  for  your  own.  You  may 
not  see  the  propriety  of  ‘‘  immersion,”  of  “ the  mourners’ 
bench,”  of  “sprinkling  holy  water,”  or  of  the  “ rite  of  con- 
firmation,” yet  if  you  assemble  with  those  that  do,  these 
ceremonies  are  entitled  to  the  same  regard  you  pay  to  those 
of  your  own  faith. 

3.  It  is  also  manifestly  a dictate  of  propriety  never  to 
disturb  an  assembly  for  worship  by  entering  late,  or  by 
leaving  before  the  audience  is  properly  dismissed. 

Second.  Towards  Parents. 

1.  Always  sustain  the  honor,  the  dignity,  and  the  good 
name  of  your  parents.  Let  it  be  understood  by  all,  that 
you  intend  to  pay  deference  to  their  wishes,  that  you  never 
consent  to  do  what  they  will  not  approve.  Ever  remember 
that  the  truest  friend  you  have  ever  had,  or  perhaps  ever 
will  have,  is  your  mother. 

2.  Let  your  address  be  respectful.  When  childhood’s 

tender  and  mamma  give  way  in  advancing  years,  let 

it  be  to  the  worthy  and  always  welcome /aifAer  and  mother. 

3.  Consider  how  often  they  have  denied  themselves 
pleasures  for  your  happiness,  and  how  incessantly  they  have 
toiled  for  your  comfort,  and  seek  to  show  that  you  are 
neither  unmindful  of  it,  nor  ungrateful  for  it.  Reward  their 
parental  love  and  care  by  your  filial  regard. 


76 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Third.  Behavior  towards  Equals. 

First.  Companions. 

The  first  consideration  among  associates  or  companions 
is  that  of  equality  of  rights  and  privileges.  No  one  can 
claim  more  than  another.  All  stand  upon  the  same  foot- 
ing. From  this  it  is  evident  that  we  should  ask  nothing  of 
others  which  we  would  be  unwilling  to  grant  them;  nor  do 
to  them  what  we  would  be  unwilling  to  have  them  do  to  us. 

2.  Where  only  one  of  several  can  enjoy  some  special 
privilege,  we  should  not  selfishly  claim  it  or  seek  to  secure 
it  for  ourselves.  That  is  a very  ill  disposition,  but  a far  too 
common  one.  There  are  many  persons  who  will  join  no 
enterprise  if  they  cannot  have  a prominent  place — who 
will  lend  no  aid  to  any  scheme  if  their  advice  is  not  fol- 
lowed. 

3.  Consider  that  each  one’s  opinions  and  wishes  are 
entitled  to  the  same  regard  as  your  own.  Hence  if  any 
plan  of  action  is  agreed  upon,  even  though  you  did  not 
think  it  the  best,  give  it  the  same  cordial  support  as  if  your 
counsel  had  been  followed. 

Fourth.  Towards  Brothers  and  Sisters. 

There  are  few  relations  in  life  that  afi’ord  a serener  joy 
than  that  of  brother  and  sister;  and  yet  there  are  few  that 
so  often  yield  no  more.  Many  brothers  are  given  to  teas- 
ing or  vexing  their  sisters,  on  account  of  their  timidity, 
their  acquaintances,  or  for  some  other  equally  unimportant 
reason.  On  the  other  hand, 

1.  Brothers  should  remember  that  their  privileges, 
their  strength,  and  their  opportunities  are  much  greater 
than  those  cSi  their  sisters,  and  that,  therefore,  they  should 
aid  them  in  all  their  plans  of  pleasure  or  improvement. 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


7*? 


Assist  them  to  visit  every  place  they  desire,  even  if  you 
have  to  remain  at  home,  for  at  best  their  opportunities  will 
be  greatly  less  than  yours. 

2.  Converse  freely  with  them  upon  their  affairs,  and 
give  them  your  cordial  sympathy.  Their  wishes  and  prefer- 
ences will  often  be  unlike  yours;  but  they  will  be  gratified 
with  your  interest  and  counsel,  when  given  in  a friendly 
spirit. 

3.  Sisters  should  invite  this  kindly  sympathy,  and 
repay  it  by  renewed  expressions  of  sisterly  affection. 
Brothers  are  always  gratified  by  the  kind  regard  of  a sister, 
and  yield  more  readily  to  its  gentle  influence  than  to  almost 
any  other. 

Fifth.  Towards  the  Weak  and  Infirm. 

Providence  has  allotted  our  gifts  variously.  Some  are 
strong,  others  are  weak;  some  are  vigorous,  others  feeble. 
The  strong  and  healthful  possess  many  advantages:  they 
can  go  wherever  they  please,  enter  upon  any  pursuit,  and 
try  every  resource  of  happiness.  The  feeble  can  hope  for 
many  of  these,  only  as  aided  by  the  stronger.  Hence — 

1.  Where  enjoyment  can  be  extended  to  but  one,  it 
should  always  be  yielded  by  the  stronger  to  the  weaker. 
As  in  case  of  a ride  or  attendance  at  a pleasure-party,  if 
but  one  can  go,  it  should  be  the  one  whose  health  or  circum- 
stances permit  such  pleasures  least  frequently. 

2.  When  there  is  some  personal  inconvenience  to  be 
suffered,  and  but  few  can  be  exempt,  these  should  be  of 
those  least  able  to  bear  fatigue.  Thus  in  an  overcrowded 
car,  seats  should  be  tendered  to  the  aged,  the  maimed,  and 
the  infirm. 


78 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Sixth.  Towards  the  Brute  Creation. 

No  noble,  generous  heart  ever  needlessly  gives  pain  to 
a dumb  animal.  Much  of  our  treatment  of  innocent  and 
harmless  creatures  is  brutal,  cruel,  and  without  excuse  or 
palliation.  Such  is  the  overloading  of  beasts  of  burden, 
overdriving  them,  whipping  and  beating  them  when  the 
task  is  beyond  their  strength,  inciting  animals  to  fight,  as 
dogs  and  game-cocks,  or  the  killing  or  wanton  torturing  of 
innocent  and  harmless  animals.  No  young  man  that  looks 
forward  to  a high  and  honorable  career  in  life  will  ever  de- 
base himself  by  cruelty.  Brutality  and  nobleness  keep  no 
companionship. 

Reason  and  the  sense  of  right  were  bestowed  upon  man 
that  he  might  be  the  protector  of  these  lower  orders  of 
creation,  not  the  oppressor.  It  is  our  duty  to  see  that  they 
suffer  no  harm  at  our  hands. 

Seventh.  Behavior  in  Public. 

First.  In  Public  Assemblies. 

Endeavor  to  be  in  season,  so  as  not  to  trespass  upon 
public  attention  by  entering  late;  and  when  such  entrance 
is  unavoidable,  use  the  utmost  care  to  make  it  unobservant 
and  unobtrusive.  Never  leave  but  upon  the  most  impera- 
tive reasons,  until  the  proper  dismissal  of  the  audience. 

At  a musical  entertainment,  to  converse  or  otherwise 
distract  attention  during  the  music,  would  be  rudeness. 

Eighth.  In  the  Street, 

Let  your  deportment  be  quiet  and  unostentatious,  your 
conversation  in  a subdued  undertone.  Loud  talking  or 
violent  gesticulation  in  the  street  is  incompatible  with 
delicacy  and  refinement.  Do  not  gaze  at  oddity  of  dress 
or  peculiarity  of  persons.  Learn  to  look  without  staring. 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


79 


Ninth.  Behavior  in  Society. 

First.  In  the  Parlor. 

1.  The  very  nature  of  a formal  gathering  or  party  pre- 
cludes all  idea  of  special  association.  Conversation  and 
attention  should  be  distributed  among  all  alike.  There 
should  be  no  separate  groupings,  no  cliques,  no  favoritism. 
It  should  be  the  care  of  each  to  see  that  no  one  is  neglected 
or  left  alone. 

2.  It  is  a misapprehension  that  we  are  at  liberty  on 
such  an  occasion  to  speak  only  to  those  to  whom  we  have 
been  introduced.  The  invitation  is,  of  itself,  a sufficient 
introduction  to  every  one  present;  and  each  one  is  expected, 
without  further  formality,  to  enter  at  once  into  conversation 
with  those  about  him. 

3.  Be  ready  to  contribute  your  share  to  the  general 
enjoyment,  without  repeated  or  urgent  solicitation,  whether 
it  be  to  sing,  to  play  upon  an  instrument,  or  to  take  part  in 
some  game  or  amusement. 

4.  Consider  it  a part  of  your  duty  to  make  the  occa- 
sion agreeable  and  pleasant  to  all.  You  should  go  not  so 
much  to  be  gratified  yourself  as  to  contribute  to  the  grati- 
fication of  others.  Society  is  for  the  pleasure  of  all,  not 
the  few. 

5.  Whisperings  and  private  communications  are  re- 
garded as  offences  against  decorum.  There  are  also  many 
little  disagreeable  habits,  against  which  we  cannot  too 
sedulously  guard:  such  as  putting  the  hands  into  the 
pockets;  drumming  with  the  hands  or  feet;  whistling; 
standinor  with  the  back  to  the  fire,  or  with  the  hands  be- 
hind  the  back  under  the  coat;  scratching  the  head;  paring 
or  cleaning  nails;  picking  the  nose  or  ears;  blowing  the 


80 


HOW  TO  WIN 


nose;  spitting;  yawning  and  many  others  of  similar  nature, 
which  will  suggest  themselves  to  the  thoughtful. 

Tenth.  At  Table. 

The  first  requisite  at  a table  is  neatness  of  person  and 
apparel,  and  delicacy  of  intercourse. 

2.  Polite  attention  to  those  near  you,  to  assist  them  to 
whatever  they  may  desire,  and  to  see  that  they  are  not  left 
uncared  for.  Nothing  is  more  awkward  than  to  sit  beside 
one  who  is  so  intent  upon  his  own  gratification  as  to  be 
regardless  of  the  wants  of  others. 

3.  Let  the  conversation  be  light,  cheerful  and  abundant. 
Avoid  all  unpleasant  and  disagreeable  topics,  and  all 
upon  which  there  may  be  much  diversity  of  opinion. 
The  heat  of  discussion  and  argument  are  not  suited  to  the 
occasion. 

4.  Use  the  knife  for  cutting  only,  never  carrying  it  to 
the  mouth  under  any  circumstances.  Never  use  the  tooth- 
pick at  table,  unless  something  should  become  painfully 
lodged  in  a tooth,  and  then  with  the  utmost  unobtrusive- 
ness, and  with  the  mouth  covered. 

5.  Never  insist  upon  a person  being  helped  to  more, 
nor  to  certain  dishes;  nor  make  any  observations  upon  their 
preferences,  nor  that  they  have  eaten  little  or  much.  Be  ob- 
servant that  all  are  abundantly  supplied,  and  then  leave  them 
free  to  the  exercise  of  their  own  choice  and  taste,  without 
comment  or  allusion. 

6.  Many  little  irregularities,  which  elsewhere  would  be 
of  trivial  importance,  become  at  table  unpleasant  or  dis- 
agreeable. Use,  therefore,  the  greatest  care  that  your  man- 
ners and  habits  be  pleasing  and  acceptable.  Carelessness 
and  want  of  propriety  at  the  table  are  unpardonable.  Scru- 
pulously avoid,  every  ill-seeming  habit, — such  as  eating 


Hope  and  Despair. 


Of  TOE 
UMWEESiTY  CF 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


81 


with  rapidity;  stuffing  the  mouth;  talking  with  the  mouth 
full;  sipping  tea  or  soup  with  a guzzling  noise;  chewing 
with  the  mouth  open;  crunching,  gulping,  picking  the 
teeth  with  the  fork  or  fingers;  wiping  the  mouth  with  the 
hand,  and  the  like. 

Behavior  in  the  Home  Circle. 

1 Each  individual  has  an  intelligent  and  physical  con- 
stitution peculiar  to  himself.  His  disposition  is  not  wholly 
like  that  of  any  other  person  and  sometimes  quite  unlike. 
Hence  the  tastes,  the  pleasures  and  the  modes  of  play  or 
thought  of  each  one  will  differ  more  or  less  from  those  of  all 
others;  but  so  far  as  these  peculiarities  do  not  interfere  with 
the  enjoyment  of  others,  they  should  be  left  without  inter- 
ference. Each  one  should  be  left  free  to  amuse  and  enjoy 
himself  in  his  own  way  and  at  his  own  will.  Elder  brothers 
and  sisters  may  advise,  but  should  never  attempt  to  control 
or  dictate  in  amusements  or  harmless  play. 

2 Be  ready  to  enter  into  any  sport  or  amusement  that 
the  others  may  desire,  even  if  you  do  not  particularly  care 
for  it  yourself.  Never  permit  a pleasure  to  be  declined  for 
want  of  assistance,  if  it  lies  in  your  power  to  afford  it. 

3 Do  not  be  inquisitive.  Never  be  prying  into  one 
another  s business.  There  are  some  persons  who  are  never 
content  if  there  is  anything,  however  unimportant,  going  on 
till  they  know  all  about  it  and  who  sometimes  take  very 
questionable  ways  of  finding  out.  Remember,  that  an  in- 
quisitive person  is  always  feared  and  always  unwelcome. 

4 Be  no  news-carrier;  a busybody  is  always  distrusted. 
Never  permit  anyone  to  fill  your  mind  with  news  about 
other  people.  Such  a person  will  soon  fill  other  people’s 


82 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


minds  with  news  about  yourself.  There  is  a homely,  but 
truthful  maxim,  ‘‘the  dog  that  brings  a bone  will  take  a bone.” 

5 Guard  against  fault-finding  and  censoriousness.  Every- 
one, even  the  mature  and  wise,  make  mistakes  sometimes — 
the  young  very  frequently;  but  it  is  an  ill-disposition  that 
is  ever  ready  to  say,  “Didn’t  you  know  any  better  than  that!” 
‘‘You  have  been  very  foolish,”  The  young  are  peculiarly 
sensitive  to  blame  and  we  should  discriminate  with  the 
greatest  care  between  malicious  acts  and  inadvertent  actSj 
and  while  we  may  blame  the  one,  the  other  is  to  be  coun- 
selled in  kindness. 

6 One  of  the  greatest  lessons  of  all  is  forgiveness.  We 
all  sometimes  do  wrong  towards  our  fellows  and  companions, 
yet  in  our  better  moments  we  would  gladly' repair  the  wrong 
and  have  it  forgotten.  In  this  spirit  should  we  forget  and 
forgive.  Never  treasure  up  any  of  those  little  trespasses 
which  youth  is  so  liable  to  commit  and  which  after  all,  spring 
more  from  inexperience  than  evil  intent. 

‘‘To  err  is  human — to  forgiye,  divine,*’ 

7 Finally,  be  kind,  open-hearted  and  generous,  with  a 
friendly  word  and  a helping  hand  for  everyone.  Kindness 
costs  little  and  gains  much.  Be  helpful  to  the  aged,  respect- 
ful to  those  in  the  prime  of  life,  companionable  to  the  young 
and  useful  to  all.  And  if  at  any  time  your  life  should  seem 
monotonous  or  aimless,  and  without  promise  of  usefulness, 
forget  not  the  words  of  the  Great  Master,  “Whosoever  shaU 
give  to  drink  unto  one  of  these  little  ones  a cup  of  cold 
water  only,  in  the  name  of  a disciple,  shall  in  no  wise  lose 
his  reward.” 

MODESTY  is  a wonderful  virtue  in  the  young,  but  it 
has  no  affinity  (although  many  people  assert  the  contrary) 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


83 


with  bashfulness  which  is  a disease.  The  effects  of  this 
disease  or  wretched  embarrassment  are  of  more  importance 
than  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  readers  out  of  a thou- 
sand imagine.  Bashfulness  assumes  many  varieties  of  form. 
In  the  young  man,  it  shows  itself  in  a distaste  for  society,  or 
rather  in  a fear  to  mix  socially  with  his  fellow-beings,  lest 
he  should  make  some  unfortunate  blunder;  in  a perpetual 
awe  of  the  female  sex,  which  often  prevents  him  from  form- 
ing a matrimonial  alliance  where  his  chances  may  be  good 
and  his  heart  most  deeply  engaged;  in  a nervous  dread  of 
speaking  in  public,  which  has  kept  in  the  dark  many  a good 
natural  orator  and  driven  from  the  law  courts  innumerable 
men,  who  might  have  become  good  forensic  speakers,  and  as 
such  reaped  fame  and  fortune. 

The  failure  to  profit  by  the  advantage  of  a good  commer- 
cial connection,  which  by  force  of  character  and  self-confi- 
dence is  always  to  be  had,  is  also  too  often  the  result  of  the 
same  affliction.  Hence  it  is  that  many  a man  drudges  his 
life  out  as  a clerk,  salesman  or  bookkeeper,  who  by  proper 
culture  and  the  practice  of  ordinary  confidence  might  in  due 
time  have  become  a partner  or  principal  in  some  large  estab- 
lishment. Even  supposing  that  none  of  these  very  serious 
consequences  were  the  result  of  the  disease  mentioned,  the 
mere  annoyance  of  feeling  himself  awkward  and  gawkish, 
in  the  presence  of  those  who  ought  to  be  his  familiar  asso- 
ciates and  abject  and  afraid  in  the  presence  of  those  whom 
chance  may  have  placed  above  him  in  the  ordinary  pursuits 
of  life,  is  enough  to  produce  positive  and  permanent  un- 
happiness. 

The  effects  of  bashfulness  in  ladies  are  of  the  same 
general  character  as  those  produced  by  bashfulness  in  men. 
At  an  evening  party,  for  instance,  where  a bashful  young 
man  and  a bashful  young  lady  find  themselves  tete-a-tete, 


84 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


what  a deplorable  floundering  and  fluttering  they  make  in 
their  agonized  attempt  to  appear  at  ease  in  each  other’s  com- 
pany! Although  they  may  be  well  educated  and  have  abund- 
ance of  wisdom  and  gaiety  stowed  away  in  the  recesses  of 
their  natures,  their  tongues  cleave  to  the  roof  of  their  mouths 
and  they  are,  in  the  eyes  of  the  lookers-on  a pair  of  tortured 
simpletons. 

It  is  not  hard  to  give  a definition  of  the  term  Bashfulness. 
It  is  a lack  of  Personal  Magnetism.  The  greater  this  force 
or  power,  the  more  attractive  and  fascinating  the  manners, 
and  the  more  brilliant  and  prosperous  the  life  and  progress 
of  the  possessor.  The  world  affords  examples  enough,  dead 
and  living,  to  show  that  men  and  women  who  possess  elec- 
trical power  to  a great  degree,  are  leaders  of  their  fellow- 
beings  and  according  to  the  degree  in  which  they  possess  it, 
exercise  influence  over  everybody  with  whom  they  come  in 
contact,  no  matter  what  may  be  their  purpose.  This  is  the 
grand  secret  of  fascination. 

I have  often  felt  pained  to  witness  in  society  the  prevalent 
inability  on  the  part  of  its  constituents  to  look  into  the  face 
of  one  another  during  conversation.  This  weakness  exists 
even  among  neighbors,  friends,  relations  and  members  of 
Christian  churches.  Some  writers  would  have  us  believe  all 
persons  subject  to  it  to  be  dishonest,  deceitful  and  untrust- 
worthy, but  from  long  and  watchful  experience  I am  con- 
vinced that  this  is  not  the  case. 

I am  acquainted  with  good,  kind-hearted,  Christian  men 
and  women,  who  once  had  this  failing  in  a great  measure, 
but  acting  on  the  advice  I gave  them  have  entirely  conquered 
their  weakness,  and  now,  instead  of  shunning  society  and 
conversation  as  being  irksome  and  vexatious,  they  court 
both  for  the  pleasure  and  profit  they  yield.  Now  in  order  to 
secure  the  object  in  view,  the  person  affected  with  the  afore- 


OK,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


86 


mentioned  disease  must  not  only  firmly  resolve  in  his  own 
mind  to  conquer  this  infirmity,  but  also  give  strict  attention 
to  the  securing  of  vigorous  bodily  health  and  the  accumu- 
lation of  Personal  Magnetism. 

Many  remarkable  phenomena  may  be,  and  daily  are,  pro- 
duced on  persons  in  the  ordinary  conscious,  or  walking  state, 
by  the  usual  magnetic  processes,  with  or  without  contact 
or  passes,  when  not  pushed  so  far  as  to  cause  magnetic  sleep 
or  when  the  operator  wills  that  the  sleep  shall  not  be. 

These  phenomena  are  chiefly  such  as  exhibit  the  control 
acquired  by  the  magnetizer  over  his  subject  s movements 
and  sensations. 

The  adherence  for  a few  months  to  the  simple  rules  I lay 
down,  will  most  certainly  insure  success  and  will  also  so 
thoroughly  improve  the  health  and  looks  of  those  who  follow 
them,  as  to  cause  astonishment  both  to  the  individuals  them- 
selves and  their  friends  around  them.  The  vitality  of  the 
nervous  system  will  become  stronger,  the  spirits  brighter  and 
the  countenance  animated  with  health  and  cheerfulness. 
Those  who  are  young  will  retain  to  a late  period  in  their  life, 
youth,  beauty  and  happy  spirits,  and  the  already  aged  in  ap- 
pearance, in  a great  measure  regain  these  desirable  gifts 
without  the  aid  of  artificial  means. 

A person  may  be  highly  gifted  and  well  educated,  yet  if 
destitute  of  the  art  of  pleasing,  all  other  accomplishments 
will  be  of  little  account.  A winning  manner  is  not  so  easily 
described  as  felt;  it  is  the  compound  result  of  different 
things,  not  a severality  of  manners,  but  of  Personal  Mag- 
netism, which  everyone  should  study,  as  success  in  life  de- 
pends much  upon  it. 


CHAPTER  VI, 


CHARACTER  INFLUENCED  BY  FOOD. 

FLESH  EaTING  A SIN. 

“Prove  all  thinga  and  hold  fast  that  which  is  good.** 

IN  making  a general  survey  of  the  animal  kingdom  we 
find  that  the  carnivorous  or  flesh-eating,  are  always 
^ savage,  spasmodic  in  their  energies,  with  little  capacity 
for  persistent  or  continuous  labor,  as  notice  the  lion,  tiger 
bear,  wolf,  etc. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  herbivorous  animal  is  compara- 
tively mild,  has  large  capacity  for  continuous  regulated  labor, 
instance  the  ox,  camel,  elephant,  horse  and  reindeer. 

The  change  wrought  in  the  different  species  of  bears  by 
substituting  one  kind  of  food  for  another  well  illustrates  our 
subject,  “The  strength  and  ferocity  of  the  different  species 
and  of  the  different  individuals  of  the  same  species  seem  to 
depend  largely  on  the  nature  of  their  diet,  those  restricted  to 
vegetable  food  showing  an  approach  to  that  mildness  of  dis- 
position, characteristic  of  herbivorous  animals.” 

The  Grizzly  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  White  Polar 
bear  subsist  almost  wholly  on  animal  food  and  are  corres- 
pondingly ferocious  while  some  of  the  black  and  brown,  liv- 
ing chiefly  on  vegetable  food  are  correspondingly  mild. 

86 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


87 


Our  North  American  Indian  furnishes  us  as  good  an  ex- 
ample of  a flesh  eating  race  as  any  of  which  history  gives 
an  account.  Find  him  where  his  food  is  flesh,  fish  and  game 
and  he  exhibits  the  savage,  war-like  nature  of  the  carnivor- 
ous lower  animals;  like  them  is  good  for  a dash  on  his  ene- 
mies or  game,  but  has  little  or  no  industrial  capacity,  manual 
or  mental. 

Turning  now  to  the  ancient  history  of  the  eastern  conti- 
nents, we  find  the  desert  portions  of  northern  Africa  and 
Arabia  occupied  by  migrating  tribes  living  mostly  on  the 
products  of  their  flocks  and  herds  and  they  have  remained 
half  civilized  and  unstable  in  character.  Later,  having  con- 
quered and  inhabited  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Nile,  the  natu- 
ral food  having  become,  in  consequence,  almost  exclusively 
vegetable,  chiefly  dates  and  a species  of  millet,  they  attained 
perhaps  the  highest  degree  of  culture  of  any  ancient  nation 
and  exhibited  marked  similarity  in  characteristics  to  the 
ancient  Mexicans  and  Peruvians. 

In  reviewing  the  foregoing,  we  have  found  that  nearly  all 
the  civilizations  had  their  origin  under  very  similar  condi- 
tions and  have  shown  a marked  likeness  to  each  other, 
whether  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile  or  Ganges,  Euphrates  or 
Tigris,  or  the  table  lands  of  Mexico  or  Peru,  while  kindred 
tribes  occupying  neighboring  regions  not  so  favorably  situa- 
ted for  agricultural  pursuits  and  subsisting  chiefly  on  the 
more  easily  procured  animal  food,  have  always  remained  semi- 
civilized  or  barbarous,  deficient  in  physical  vitality,  self- 
control  and  energy  except  when,  like  the  carnivorous  ani- 
mals, they  are  in  pursuit  of  their  prey.  They  have  also  a 
morbid  thirst  for  artificial  stimulants  and  ever  fall  an  easy 
victim  to  the  effects  of  firewater,  nicotine,  etc,,  as  well  as  to 
small-pox  and  other  diseases. 


88 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Having  made  a general  survey  of  the  races  of  man  and  of 
the  lower  animals  we  have  found  that,  given  similar  food,  a 
striking  similarity  in  character  has  resulted. 

On  investigation  it  may  be  found  that  there  is  a relation 
between  the  butcher  shop  and  the  liquor  saloon;  that  a meat 
diet  creates  a tendency  or  appetite  for  alcohol.  It  is  said 
that  seamen  who  live  largely  on  salt  meat  are  more  prone 
than  most  classes,  to  drunkenness. 

We  have  been  told  that  in  the  colder  latitudes  a more 
highly  carbonized  or  heat  producing  food  is  required  to  sus- 
tain proper  vitality,  and  we  are  often  assured  that  alcoholic 
liquors  are  needed  for  somewhat  the  same  purpose. 

The  fallacy  of  the  latter  assumption  is  easily  seen.  Ex- 
perience has  amply  demonstrated  that  those  using  such  stim- 
ulants are  less  able  to  bear  an  unusual  demand  in  strength 
or  nerve  than  those  abstaining. 

The  Scotch  peasant  on  his  oatmeal  diet  is  not  less  well 
nourished  than  the  Eskimo  with  his  highly  carbonized  lux- 
uries It  will  be  hard  to  find  better  specimens  of  manhood, 
either  mentally  or  physically,  than  are  to  be  found  among  the 
Scotch  peasantry. 

As  there  is  a direct  and  vital  sympathy  between  the  stomach 
and  the  brain  it  is  not  surprising  that  our  food  should  have 
a controlling  part  in  the  forming  of  our  character.  We  know 
that  excessive  use  of  alcohol  brutalizes  us  and  obscures  our 
moral  perceptions,  that  the  dyspeptic  is  irritable,  nervous 
and  melancholy. 

It  was  on  January  i,  1892,  I eschewed  the  chewing  of 
meat.  I can  assign  no  special  reason  which  prompted  me 
to  the  act.  It  surely  was  not  with  the  intent  to  diet  for  any 
special  malady.  Neither  was  it  because  I had  moral  or 
religious  scruples  against  flesh  eating.  Nor  was  it  because 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OE  SUCCESS 


89 


I had  been  educated  to  believe  any  form  of  animal  life 
other  than  that  of  man  was  in  any  sense  sacred.  On  the 
contrary,  I had  been  taught  and  it  was  so  practiced  by  my 
father,  that  any  animal  which  man  desired  to  slay  and  eat, 
had  been  created  for  just  such  purpose. 

Many  of  my  boyhood  days  have  been  spent  with  gun, 
trap  or  net  to  kill  for  sport,  as  well  as  for  food  and  profit. 
Upon  the  farm  I was  often  called  to  kill  the  fattened  ox  and 
cow,  which  had  been  faithful  in  work  or  generous  in  milk,  or 
to  blot  life  out  of  the  innocent  lamb  with  the  cruel  ax.  Oft 
has  my  hand  been  dyed  by  the  hot  gush  from  the  “great 
American  hog'’  as  it  followed  the  murderous  knife  when 
withdrawn  from  the  fatal  thrust. 

Oft  have  I laughed  to  see  the  blindly  frantic  leaps  of  the 
beheaded  fowl  which  had  suffered  decapitation  at  the  wood- 
pile  guillotine,  or  by  the  more  shameful  and  heartless  pro- 
cess of  having  its  neck  wrung. 

By  mere  chance,  or  as  I may  now  call  it  good  luck,  a 
copy  of  the  “Laws  of  Life”  and  “Food,  Home  and  Garden,” 
two  periodicals  published  in  the  interest  of  vegetarianism, 
fell  into  my  hands  and  after  perusing  their  common  sense 
argument  in  favor  of  a vegetable  diet,  I determined  to  give 
it  a trial;  the  experiment  was  a surprise  and  I can  assure 
anyone  that  after  a three  month’s  trial  they  would  not  return 
to  meat  eating  for  the  world,  in  fact  they  cannot,  the  butcher 
shop  and  meat  platter  are  positively  nauseating. 

It  was,  perhaps,  more  of  a desire  to  experiment  upon 
myself  than  anything  else  which  led  me  to  discontinue  meat 
eating  and  the  special  line  upon  which  I desired  to 
experiment  was  to  know  what  effect  such  abstaining  would 
have  upon  my  regard  for  the  sacredness  of  life  in  general 
and  to  ascertain  to  what  degree,  if  any,  such  sacredness 


90 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


would  grow  by  a practical  method  of  procedure.  This,  with 
the  further  suspicion  that  I would  be  improved  physically, 
as  well  as  morally,  decided  me  on  the  first  day  of  January 
1892,  to  discontinue  flesh  eating. 

No  date  was  fixed  as  to  extent  of  time  or  any  promise 
made  self  that  I would  go  without  even  a month  if  I desired 
to  resume.  With  this  slight  swearing  off,  I refused  the  of- 
fered steak  of  New  Year’s  morning  and  furthermore  I said  to 
wife:  “You  will  please  do  whatever  ordering  of  meat  is  done 

from  this  date,  I will  be  quit  of  it.”  What  a blessedness  I 
entered  into  before  one  month  had  passed!  I was  rid  of 
answering:  “What  kind  of  meat  shall  we  have.^”  I would 

go  by  the  markets  and  look  in  at  the  criminality  of  the  meat 
eating  world  and  my  inmost  soul  would  rejoice  that  I could 
say:  “I  am  clean  of  this  blood  guiltiness.” 

I soon  began  to  notice  meals  were  quite  frequent  without 
meat.  Scarcely  any  pork  came  upon  the  table.  The  Sun- 
day dinner  did  not  always  demand  the  use  of  carving  tools. 
The  baked  chicken,  turkey  or  rib  began  to  be  conspicuously 
absent  and  mind  you,  not  because  there  had  been  a single 
command  against  using  any  amount  of  anykind  of  flesh  or 
fowl.  What  else.^  I was  soon  conscious  that  more  had  been 
wrought  within  me  than  the  joy  of  guiltlessness.  There  was 
a restoration  of  physical  functions  to  perfectly  normal  con- 
ditions. A satisfied  feeling  given  to  appetite  never  known 
before.  That  peculiar  “goneness”  so  often  felt  if  meals 
were  not  had  at  exact  hours,  was  no  more  experienced.  My 
weight  has  increased  ten  pounds  and  health  is  perfect.  My 
health  has  well  paid  for  the  experiment.  My  good  wife  too, 
seeing  that  I can  subsist  on  grains,  fruits  and  vegetables,  is 
conforming  to  my  habits  and  for  some  months  now  has  been 
a vegetarian,  having  almost  lost  all  desire  for  meat, 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


91 


and  we  are  as  healthy  a couple  as  one  need  wish  to  see, 
and  our  children,  when  we  are  blessed  with  them,  shall 
surely  be  strict  vegetarians.  What  do  we  eat?  Everything: 
we  use  butter,  milk,  eggs  and  cheese  in  limited  quantities, 
all  we  wish,  however.  Our  appetites  are  better  but  provision 
expense  is  less. 

What  else?  I feel  conciously  that  my  life  is  on  a 
higher  plane.  Physically  higher:  because  purer,  therefore 
healthier.  Mentally  higher:  because  clearer.  Much  of  my 
work  is  writing,  and  I experience  ability  to  hold  thought 
better  in  control  with  less  brain  fatigue.  Morally  higher: 
I am  guiltless  of  death.  Life  in  its  entirety  has  a sacredness 
never  before  thought  of.  I cannot  conceive  why,  if  I had 
been  so  educated,  I should  not  enjoy  a nicely  roasted 
missionary  as  well  as  that  of  a turkey,  ox  or  hog.  The 
taste  is  said  to  be  far  superior.  Of  course  I should  want 
the  missionary  healthy,  the  same  as  I should  the  ox,  hog  or 
turkey  to  be. 

I find  the  horribleness  of  the  slaughtering  of  animals  for 
food  growing  upon  me  daily.  It  has  become  so  intense, 
there  is  not  much  danger  of  my  ever  going  back  to  the 
“flesh  pots,”  filled  with  the  boiling  and  stewing  bits  of  some 
chopped  up  corpse  of  cow,  sheep  or  hog  or  the  embalmed 
body  of  mother  goose  or  daughter  duck  or  Sir  Gobbler, 
dripping  with  the  death  damp  of  their  own  carcasses  as  they 
come  from  the  smoking  oven. 

With  this  horribleness  of  the  destruction  of  life,  for  the 
maintenance  of  life,  comes  a more  vivid  sense  of  the 
fiendishness  of  the  taking  of  life  to  placate  the  giver  of  all 
life;  the  fountain  of  life;  the  only  life,  for  all  life  must  of 
necessity  be  of  one  common  source. 


92 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


My  observations  lead  me  to  conclude  that  meat  eating  is 
the  cause  directly  and  indirectly  of  three-fourths  of  all 
diseases  and  sickness.  That  it  is  provocative  of  a desire  for 
stimulants  and  narcotics.  That  it  nurtures  in  man  vindic- 
tive, combative,  destructive  and  lustful  dispositions.  That 
it  is  the  greatest  hinderance  to  purity  of  life,  mental 
progress  and  spiritual  development  of  any  known  cause. 

Among  aquaintances  and  friends  I find  that  none  who 
are  absolutely  Vegetarians  are  intemperate.  That  all  who 
have  discontinued  flesh  eating  have  been  greatly  benefitted 
in  health  and  all  express  themselves  as  well  satisfied  with 
the  change. 

I am  not  treating  the  subject  of  flesh  eating  or  Vege- 
tarianism from  a scientific  standpoint,  but  from  personal 
experience  and  observation.  Theories  do  not  count,  how- 
ever finely  formed,  that  are  contrary  to  the  existing  facts; 
and  facts  favor  a vegetable  diet  in  all  cases. 

I adopted  the  vegetarian  diet  with  the  daily  cold  bath, 
and  other  hygenic  habits,  to  the  great  improvement  of  my 
health,  and  with  the  result  that  from  that  day  to  this  I have 
never  had  one  hour’s  illness,  nor  evor  been  hindered  one 
day  from  my  ordinary  avocations.  As  a matter  of  taste  the 
disuse  of  flesh  meat  has  been  no  sacrifice,  and  I have  found 
a diet  of  bread,  fruit,  and  vegetables,  with  some  use,  for 
convenience,  of  milk,  sufficient,  satisfying,  heathful,  and 
delicious.  This  also  has  been  the  experience  of  millions;  in 
fact,  of  three-fifths  of  the  human  race  in  all  ages. 

The  reason  why  people  should  adopt  a vegetarian  diet 
is,  that  it  is  the  best  in  every  possible  way.  This  is  now 
admitted  by  the  highest  medical  and  scientific  authorities- 

Vegetarianism  is  best  for  health,  being  pure  and 
purifying.  Fruits  purify  the  blood.  Flesh  is  always  liable 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


93 


to  be  diseased,  and  at  its  best  has  a diseasing  tendency. 
Cattle  and  pigs  fattened  for  slaughter  are  liable  to  tubercle, 
scrofula,  tape-worm,  and  other  parasites,  and  the  diseases  of 
cattle,  sheep,  pigs,  etc.,  are  transmissible.  A vegetable 
diet  alleviates  and  often  cures  scrofulous,  cancerous,  and 
consumptive  tendencies. 

From  the  earliest  times  the  labour  of  the  world  has 
been  done  by  people  living  on  the  simplest  vegetable  food 
— on  rice,  maize,  rye,  wheat,  barley,  and  oats;  on  bananas, 
supposed  to  be  the  food  of  primitive  man,  dates,  figs,  grapes, 
oranges,  apples,  pears,  peaches,  acorns,  walnuts,  chestnuts, 
cocoanuts,  etc.,  etc.  Our  ancestors  lived  on  acorns,  barley, 
and  various  berries  and  fruits.  Scotland  and  Ireland  have 
raised  millions  of  strong  men  and  beautiful  women  on 
oatmeal  and  potatoes.  Until  recently  the  agricultural 
laborers  of  England  seldom  tasted  flesh.  The  great 
populations  of  India  and  China  are  fed  almost  entirely  upon 
a vegetable  diet.  So  are  the  hard-working  peasantry  all 
over  Europe,  from  Spain  and  Portugal  to  Russia  and 
Turkey,  where  the  strongest  and  hardiest  men  in  the  world 
may  be  seen  living  on  brown  bread  and  figs  or  grapes. 

If  a vegetarian  diet  be  cheaper,  more  healthful,  better 
in  every  way,  why  not  adopt  it?  Why  not,  at  least,  give  it 
a fair  trial?  Why  waste  one  dollar  a head  upon  a 
fashionable  dinner  when  every  natural  requirement  can  be 
supplied  for  a few  cents?  And  why  not  put  an  end  to  the 
horrible  cruelties  in  the  carriage  and  slaughter  of  animals, 
and  all  the  horrors  attending  the  unhealthy  and  unbeautiful 
habit  of  eating  the  dead  bodies  of  our  fellow-creatures — 
one  step  removed  from  the  cannibalism  of  savages?  On 
one  side  the  beauty  of  an  Eden  life  cheering  every  sense; 


94 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


on  the  other  the  pig*  stye,  the  butchery,  and  all  the  cruelties 
and  horrors  of  a carnivorous  diet. 

Vegetarianism  Explained,  — No  task  more  closely 
concerns  the  life  and  health  of  man,  than  that  of  providing 
for  his  norishment  and  that  of  his  family;  and  it  is  highly 
important  that  we  should  possess  a scientific  foundation  on 
which  to  establish  a pure,  natural,  and  health-giving  diet. 
Experience  has  proved  that  fully  three-fourths  of  the  dis- 
eases which  afflict  the  human  frame  owe  their  origin  to 
improper  diet,  and  many  of  them  would  be  absolutely  im- 
possible if  the  consumption  of  animal  food  were  given  up. 

A vegetarian  diet,  from  its  cool,  bland,  and  unstimu- 
lating effect  on  the  animal  passions,  is  favourable  to  purity 
of  thought,  chastity,  and  a harmonious  and  peaceful  dis- 
position. It  also  tends  greatly  to  temperance,  and  removes 
all  desire  or  craving  for  stimulants — either  in  the  form  of 
alcoholic  drinks  or  tobacco. 

There  are  homes  for  confirmed  drunkards,  where  the 
only  diet  is  bread  and  fruit;  and  this  diet  has  cured 
drunkards  when  every  other  means  has  failed.  Vegetar- 
ianism is  a strong  ally  of  total  abstinence,  and  no  vegetarian 
has  ever  been  known  to  be  a drunkard. 

The  word  “vegetarian”  does  not  mean  vegetable  eater, 
but  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  “Vegetus,”  which 
means,  “vital — vigorous — healthful — wholesome.” 

Bible  Beferences, — God  said  to  Adam  (Gen.  i.  29) 
“Behold  I have  given  you  every  herb  bearing  seed,  which 
is  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  every  tree,  in  which  is  the 
fruit  of  a tree  yielding  seed.  To  you  it  shall  be  for  meat.” 
Other  Bible  references  could  be  given,  as  Jacob,  Ezekiel 
Daniel,  and  John  the  Baptist.  In  Isaiah  (Ixvi.  3)  we  fin 
the  verse  “He  that  killeth  an  ox  is  as  if  he  slew  a man.” 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


95 


The  natural  food  of  man,  judging  from  his  structure, 
appears  to  consist  principally  of  the  fruits,  roots,  and 
vegetables. 

Certainly  man  by  nature  was  never  made  to  be  a 
carnivorous  (feeding  on  flesh)  animal,  nor  is  he  armed  at  all 
for  prey,  with  jagged  and  pointed  teeth — crooked  claws 
sharpened  to  rend  and  tear;  but  with  gentle  hands  to  gather 
fruit  and  vegetables,  and  with  teeth  to  chew  and  eat  them. 

The  teeth  of  a man  have  not  the  slightest  resemblance 
to  those  of  the  carnivorous  animals,  and  whether  we  con- 
sider the  teeth  and  jaws,  or  the  digestive  organs,  the 
human  structure  closely  resembles  that  of  the  frugivorous 
animals. 

No  physiologist  would  dispute  with  those  who  maintain 
that  man  ought  to  live  on  vegetables  alone,  or  that  many 
might  not  be  as  well  or  better  under  such  a system  as  any 
other. 

Vegetarian  food  is  not — as  so  many  imagine — simply 
potatoes  and  cabbage,  but  consists  of;  first,  “Cereals,”  as 
wheat,  barley,  rye,  oatmeal,  maize,  rice,  sago,  tapioca, 
semolina,  macaroni,  hominy,  etc. 

Fruits,  both  ripe  and  dry,  as  apples,  oranges,  tomatoes, 
figs,  dates,  currants  and  raisins,  etc.  There  are  some 
hundreds  of  dilferent  kinds  of  fruit  alone. 

“Pulse,”  as  lentils,  haricot  beans  and  peas. 

I might  just  say  in  passing,  that  “pulse”  foods  should 
be  eaten  in  moderation,  and  only  about  twice  a week,  as 
they  are  so  highly  nitrogenous. 

Vegetables  of  all  kinds. 

Nuts  of  all  kinds.  Vegetable  oils,  as  olive,  cotton- 
seed, etc. 


96 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


The  above  are  used  with  bread,  pudding,  porridge, 
soups,  salads,  fruits — raw  and  cooked,  in  fact,  an  endless 
variety  of  dishes  may  be  had.  It  is  a fallacy  to  suppose  that 
a vegetarian  diet  is  larger  in  bulk  than  a mixed,  or  meat, 
diet.  The  foods  that  are  prohibited  are  fish,  flesh,  and 
fowl. 

The  theory  that  fish  is  valuable  brain  food  is  absurd, 
and  has  long  since  been  exploded.  Apropos  of  this,  Mark 
Twain  replied  to  a young  would-be  author  as  follows: 
‘‘Yes,  Agassiz  does  recommend  fish  as  brain  food,  so  far 
you  are  correct.  But  I cannot  help  you  to  a decision  about 
the  amount  you  need  to  eat — at  least  with  certainty.  If 
the  specimen  of  your  composition  you  send  is  about  your 
usual  average,  I should  judge  that  about  a couple  of 
whales  would  be  all  you  want  for  the  present;  not  the 
largest  kind,  but  simply  good,  middling-sized  whales.” 

Vegetarians  depend  very  largely  upon  wholemeal 
bread;  in  fact,  large  numbers  of  the  more  advanced  vege- 
tarians eat  nothing  but  wholemeal  bread  and  ripe  raw  fruit. 

In  fact,  hard-working  men  can,  and  do,  live  to  an 
advanced  age,  and  enjoy  good  health,  on  no  other  food  than 
wholemeal  bread  and  water.  In  the  entire  grain  of  wheat 
an  All-wise  Creator  has  given  us  every  constituent  required 
for  the  sustenance  of  man. 

Many  people  think  that  because  it  is  fashionable  to  eat 
the  whitest  bread,  therefore  the  whitest  bread  is  the  best 
for  food.  There  cannot  be  a greater  delusion.  White 
bread  contains  chiefly  the  starchy  part  of  the  flour;  it 
contains  very  little  of  the  gluten,  which  is  the  flesh  making 
part  of  flour,  and  it  contains  next  to  none  of  the  mineral 
substance  which  is  the  bone  making  portion  of  the  wheat. 
By  our  present  mode  of  making  bread  we  are  recklessly 


Love  in  the  Fields. 


LiRP4f?Y 
Of  THE 

UHiVERSiTy  Qf  ;J.!M0!S 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


97 


wasting  one  half,  and  that  the  most  nutritious  half,  of  the 
wheat,  in  order  to  secure  delicacy  of  texture  and  whiteness 
of  colour.  The  larger  portions  of  the  nutritive  salts,  and 
the  phosphates  or  bone  forming  elements  are  lost. 

Brown  bread — so  called — is  not  wholemeal  bread,  but 
simply  white  bread  mixed  with  bran. 

Wholemeal  bread  is  that  where  the  entire  grain  of 
wheat  is  ground  and  used. 

Baron  Leibig  says,  ‘‘A  dog  fed  on  white  bread  alone 
will  die  in  40  days,  while  his  health  will  not  suffer  if  his 
food  consists  of  wholemeal  bread.  In  taste  and  digestion 
it  is  preferable,  and  children  like  it  exceedingly.  Whole- 
meal bread  contains  60  per  cent,  more  phosphates  and  salts 
than  meat,  and  200  per  cent,  more  than  white  bread.” 

White  bread  is  not  the  ‘‘staff  of  life,”  but  merely  a 
broken  stick. 

The  economy  of  nature  testifies  that  flesh  is  an 
exceedingly  wasteful  f(^od.  For  it  has  been  calculated  that 
the  annual  produce  of  acres  of  land  will — in  the  form  of 
mutton — sustain  one  man.  The  same  under  wheat  would 
support  16  men.  Corn  growing  gives  employ  to  three  men 
where  meat  growing  only  employs  one.  One  acre  of  good 
turf  will  grow  180  lbs.  of  meat,  and  same  land  would  grow 
in  same  time,  1,800  lbs.  of  wheat. 

A vegetarian  diet  is  far  more  healthful  than  a mixed 
diet.  I could  quote  many  cases  of  recovery  from  severe 
complaints  did  time  permit.  Vegetarians  are  free  frona 
cholera,  and  there  is  no  evidence  of  even  a single  case  of 
cholera,  though  it  has  entered  families  where  part  were 
vegetarians  and  it  had  not  seized  them,  whilst  flesh  eaters 
in  same  family  were  seized. 


98 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Rheumatism,  gout,  dyspepsia,  constipation,  liver  and 
kidney  complaints,  nervous  disorders,  blood,  skin,  and 
other  diseases  may  be  prevented  and  cured  by  the  diet 
alone,  and  without  the  use  of  drugs  in  any  form.  “Whoso 
is  sparing  in  diet  doctors  himself.” 

The  Turks  astonished  our  doctors  by  their  rapid 
recovery  from  severe  wounds  during  the  Russio-Turkish 
war.  Their  diet  was  frugivorous.  It  is  significant  that  no 
drugs  or  patent  medicines  are  advertised  in  vegetarian 
journals. 

The  highest  sentiments  of  humane  men  and  compassion- 
ate women,  revolt  at  the  cruelty,  the  degrading  sights,  the 
distressing  cries,  and  the  perpetual  bloodshed  which 
inevitably  surround  the  rearing,  transit,  and  slaughter  of 
animals.  I can  only  touch  on  the  question  of  diseased 
meat  and  sausages*  The  number  of  convictions  for  selling 
meat  unfit  for  food  will  speak  for  themselves.  How  many 
such  cases  escape  detection? 

One  of  the  Chicago  Meat  Inspectors  declares  that 
eight  but  of  every  ten  carcases  that  go  into  the  market  are 
tainted  with  disease.  I could  give  other  starting  facts  did 
time  permit. 

Then  again,  some  men  say  “It  may  suit  you  but  it 
would  not  suit  me.”  It  is  a fact  that  some  men  can  stand 
more  than  others  as  regards  improper  diet,  dissipation, 
hard  work,  worry,  and  irregular  hours.  But  when  it  comes 
to  a question  of  good,  pure,  natural  and  healthy  food,  we 
do  not  differ.  As  well  say  that  any  given  poison  will  kill 
nine  men  out  of  ten,  but  the  tenth — by  reason  of  a different 
constitution — escapes  death.  No,  the  poison  kills  all;  and 
with  a fair  trial  the  vegetarian  diet  will  suit  all. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


99 


Then  some  say  “I  have  tried  the  diet  and  it  did  not  agree 
with  me/'  On  enquiring  into  such  cases  I invariably  found 
that  the  failure  was  due  to  ignorance  of  the  subject  and  an 
unfair  trial.  On  going  into  one  such  case,  I found  the 
speaker  had  based  his  trial  and  rejection  of  the  diet  on  one 
meal  only  and  this  is  only  a typical  case. 

In  closing,  I may  say  that  the  chief  difficulty  in  the  way 
of  the  general  adoption  of  what  is  admitted  to  be  the  purest 
and  best  food  for  mankind,  is  the  prejudice  of  the  rich  and 
the  want  of  knowledge  of  the  poor.  The  ladies,  too,  are 
most  against  it;  because  they  are  more  conservative — except 
in  fashions — than  men.  Let  me  recommend  you  all  to  give 
the  diet  a fair  trial.  Of  course,  at  first  it  is  difficult  to  give 
up  meat,  but  then  the  drunkard  cannot  easily  give  up  his 
acquired  taste  for  drink.  The  first  taste  is  also  a point,  but 
let  me  remind  you  of  the  first  taste  of  beer,  spirits,  claret, 
tomataes  and  the  first  smoke.  Advance  and  others  will 
follow. 

Persvere,  and  your  taste  will  become  so  pure  that  you  will 
enjoy  your  food  as  you  never  enjoyed  it  before. 

The  best  and  surest  way  to  elevate  man  is  to  bring  his 
spiritual  nature  into  full  operation  and  while  the  body  is  in 
ill-health  and  filled  with  corruption,  who  could  expect  a full 
and  healthy  growth  in  grace;  it  would  be  interesting  indeed 
to  know  how  many  cross  and  unbe  arable  husbands  and  wives 
were  made  so  by  the  direct  effect  of  the  meat  which  is  part 
.of  their  daily  diet.  Meat  acts  like  a stimulant  and  its  effect 
when  eaten  habitually,  is  to  develop  unlovely  quali- 
ties of  the  human  character;  much  of  that  nature  which 
theology  says  was  inherited  because  of  the  fall  of  Adam, 
would  disappear  with  the  putting  away  of  the  tea,  coffee» 
tobacco  and  all  food  which  requires  the  sacrifice  of  life. 


100 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Loving  kindness  and  tender  mercy  are  natural  to  man 
when  his  blood  is  furnished  by  natural  and  healthful 
foods,  which  grow  around  him  in  such  abundance,  that  he 
never  has  the  plea  of  necessity  to  clear  him  of  the  guilt  of 
shedding  innocent  blood. 

A great  cry  has  arisen  that  the  human  race  is  increasing 
faster  than  the  means  of  subsistence,  that  there  is  danger  of 
a land  famine.  Even  if  this  were  true,  it  has  been  proved 
by  experiment  that  one  acre  planted  in  fruit,  vegetables  and 
cereals,  will  support  as  many  human  beings  as  six  acres  de- 
voted to  the  support  of  animals  for  slaughter.  It  is  plain 
that  should  everyone  become  convinced  that  a vegetarian 
diet  is  the  proper  one,  that  the  vast  tract  of  lands  now  used 
for  pasture  would  be  mostly  devoted  to  vegetable  gardening 
and  the  land  thus  thrown  open  to  cultivation,  would  support 
many  times  the  present  population  of  the  earth. 

There  is  a psychological  influence  possessed  by  every  sub- 
stance which  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  blood,  and 
even  when  an  animal  is  in  perfect  health  when  it  is  killed,  it 
is  mostly  terrorized  by  fear  and  the  smell  of  blood,  and  that 
condition  of  fear  and  terror  is  imparted  to  those  who  eat  of 
the  carcass;  that  this  cause  alone  will  account  for  many  ail- 
ments there  is  no  doubt,  and  when  to  this  is  added  the  meat 
consumed  that  is  actually  diseased,  we  can  conceive  of  the 
power  of  a meat  diet  to  induce  diseased  conditions  in  men. 
These  conditions  lead  to  an  ignorant  use  of  drugs  to  coun- 
teract them  and  thus  flesh  eating  plays  an  important  part  in 
making  the  human  race  sick  and  in  keeping  it  in  that 
condition. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


PERSONAL  MAGNETISM. 

“ The  Silent  Influence  of  a Magnetic  person  is  irresistible 

fHE  term  Personal  Magnetism  has  been  applied  to  a subtle 
force  existing  in  man,  which,  it  was  discovered  during 
the  last  century,  was  capable  of  producing  upon  others, 
effects  similar  to  those  produced  by  the  magnet,  hence  the 
name;  Personal  Magnetism. 

Although  much  has  been  said  and  written  upon  the  subject, 
and  it  is  generally  admitted  that  such  a power  resides  in  man, 
yet  there  are  not  wanting  those  who,  while  laying  clam  to  intelli- 
gen«;e  and  learning,  deny  in  toto  the  existence  of  an\^  such  force. 

Not  only  are  the  deniers  of  Personal  Magnetism  to  be  found 
among  the  people  (as  distinguished  from  the  schools  of  Science 
and  Medicine),  but  among  scientists  as  well ; and  by  far  too  fre- 
quently in  the  ranks  of  the  medical  profession,  to  whom  of  all 
others  the  subject  most  strongly  commends  itself.  This  is  not  as 
it  should  be,  for  medical  science  has  not  yet  attained  such  a degree 
of  perfection  as  to  render  unnecessary  the  investigation  of  still 
further  means  of  cure;  far  from  it:  and  it  is  a duty  the  medical 
profession  owes,  not  only  to  itself,  but  to  those  whose  health  and 
whose  lives  are  confided  to  its  care,  that  every  means  which 
promises  to  contribute  to  the  greater  efficiency  of  our  present 
therapeia,  should  be  carefully  and  diligently  investigated  and  if 
proved  worthy,  should  be  accorded  its  rightful  place. 

Why  the  prejudices  of  the  medical  profession  should  for 
101 


102 


HOW  TO  WIN 


so  long  a time,  have  deprived  it  of  the  aid  of  this  most  valti- 
able  agent  in  the  cure  of  disease,  is  a question  most  difficult 
to  answer;  yet  such  is  a fact,  and  it  redounds  little  to  the  credit 
of  the  profession,  that,  to  this  day,  so  far  as  it  is  concerned, 
the  subject  remains  almost  uiiinvestigated.  Nay,  more;  when 
the  subject  is  broached,  or  the  physician  is  consulted  by 
some  friend  as  to  the  advisability  of  employing  this  means,  it 
is  generally  dismissed  with  a sneer  and  the  usual  epithets  of 
humbug,  delusion,  and  imagination.  This  manner  of  dealing 
with  a subject  of  such  vast  importance  to  the  sick  certainly  is 
not  scientific.  It  is  not  rational.  Is  it  thus  we  receive  the 
discovery  of  a new  drug,  or  some  new  method  of  operation  in 
surgery?  Not  by  any  means.  The  drug  immediately  goes 
through  the  proving  process,  and  the  surgeon  anxiously 
awaits  the  opportunity  to  test  the  efficacy  of  the  new  method; 
but  this  force,  which  is  potent  where  drugs  fail  and  which 
promises  in  many  cases  to  dispense  with  the  necessity  of  sur- 
gical operation,  is  neglected  and  ridiculed,  when  it  should  be 
gladly  received  and  cherished. 

There  is  also  another  class  of  deniers,  who,  while  they  em- 
ploy the  Magnetic  force  in  the  treatment  of  disease,  ascribe 
the  valuable  results  accruing  therefrom  entirely  to  the 
method  of  application,  namely.  Manipulation.  They  claim 
that  the  benefits  derived  from  this  therapeutic  means  are 
solely  due  to  the  mechanical  effects  of  the  treatment,  and 
scout  the  idea  of  the  action  of  a vital  element.  While  man- 
ipulation is,  of  itself,  undoubtedly  beneficial,  yet,  by  this 
means  alone,  Ave  cannot  account  for  the  very  marked  effects 
so  often  produced  by  this  treatment;  and  where  mechanical 
force  alone  is  employed  as  a remedial  agent,  as  in  the  move- 
ment cure,  Avhere  machinery  takes  the  place  of  the  hands, 
though  the  action  is  much  more  profound  and  thorough,  I 
have  yet  to  learn  that  it  has  accomplished  such  valuable  re- 
sults as  have  been  obtained  by  the  hands.  But  aside  from  all 
this,  there  is  ample  proof  to  show  that  to  manipulation  alone 
is  not  due  all  of  the  beneficial  effects  of  this  treatment.  I have 
myself  treated  many  cases  of  an  inflammatory  character,  in* 
eluding  acute  rheumatism,  where  ordinary  manipulation  was 
at  first  impossible,  owing  to  extreme  sensitiveness; but  where 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


m 


by  holding  the  hands  lightly  over  the  inflamed  part,  the  sen- 
sitiveness has  been  gradually  diminished  until  full  manipula- 
tory action  could  be  carried  on  with  but  little  or  no  suffering, 
and,  I am  happy  to  add,  in  nearly  every  such  case,  so  far  as 
my  memory  serves  me,  the  relief  has  been  prompt  and  per- 
manent. 

Is  there  nothing  in  all  this,  then,  to  prove  the  action  of 
some  force  independent  of  mechanical  effect?  It  certainly 
seems  so  to  me,  and  I could  give  many  more  instances,  within 
my  own  experience,  all  tending  to  demonstrate  this  fact,  and 
enough  evidence  of  this  kind  could  be  obtained  from  others, 
if  needed,  to  fill  a volume. 

The  qualifications  of  the  author  for  such  an  inquiry  are  of 
the  very  highest  kind.  I possess  a fair  scientific  education, 
combined  with  extensive  experience.  My  life  has  been  devoted 
to  this  science,  and  its  application  to  the  practical  purposes  of 
mankind.  All  my  previous  researches  bear  testimony  to  this, 
and  at  the  same  time  prove  that  I possess  some  ingenuity  and 
skill  in  devising  and  performing  experiments;  and  more  impor- 
tant than  all,  extreme  caution  in  adopting  conclusions;  reserve 
in  propounding  theories,  and  concientiousness  in  reporting 
observations.  I have  been  found  fault  with  for  to  great  min- 
uteness of  detail,  but  this  fault,  if  it  be  a fault,  arises  from  my 
love  of  truth  and  accuracy;  a quality  which,  when  applied  to 
such  researches  as  the  present,  becomes  invaluable  and  cannot 
easily  be  pushed  to  excess, 

We  have  the  most  conclusive  evidence  of  the  existence  in 
man  of  the  peculiar  force  called  Personal  Magnetism,  and  also 
that  it  is  conductible  and  can  be  imparted.  This  testimony 
is  all  the  more  valuable,  as  the  facts  here  stated  can  be  verified 
at  any  time  by  all  who  chose  to  investigate  the  subject.  How 
ridiculous,  then,  in  the  face  of  such  testimony  as  this,  are  the 
denials  of  those  who  assume  to  pronounce  upon  the  subject 
without  in  the  least  having  qualified  themselves  so  to  do. 

As  a therapeutic  means,  this  force  has  every  reason  to 
recommend  it  to  the  physician.  While  it  in  no  way  interferes 
with  the  action  of  a drug,  it  is  efficient  where  drugs  most  con- 
spicuously fail;  and  as  an  auxiliary  to  surgical  and  medical 
treatment,  it  will,  when  better  understood,  fill  a need  that  has 


104 


HOW  TO  WIN 


long  been  felt.  For  instance  in  those  cases  wliere  surgical 
interference  is  necessary,  and  yet  where  the  condition  of  the 
patient  is  such  as  to  render  an  operation  unsafe,  there  is  no 
other  means  that  w ill  so  quickly  impart  vitality,  and  that  will 
tend  so  much  to  insure  a successful  result  as  this.  And  in 
those  adynamic  diseases,  where  the  enfeebled  system  fails  to 
respond  to  drug  action,  this  force  will  prove  most  valuable. 

While  the  Magnetic  force  has  proved  efficacious  in  both 
acute  and  chronic  diseases,  it  is  in  the  cure  of  the  latter  that 
it  has  achieved  its  greatest  success;  especially  in  the  treat- 
ment of  this  class  of  maladies,  it  is  destined  to  form  an  impor- 
tant part  of  the  therapeutics  of  the  future;  and  in  those 
diseases  which  have  proved  the  least  amenable  to  ordinary 
methods  of  cure,  it  will  be  our  chief  reliance. 

In  the  treatment  of  that  fearful  and  mysterious  disease, 
insanity,  I believe  that  this  force  is  yet  to  play  an  important 
part.  Although  my  experience  in  this  direction  has  been  lim- 
ited, and  I cannot  speak  with  that  degree  of  confidence  regard- 
ing its  efficiency  in  this,  as  in  other  ills  to  which  flesh  is  heir, 
yet  the  results  so  far  attained  seem  to  warrant  its  thorough 
trial  in  this  disease. 

I could  cite  many  cases,  showing  the  value  of  this  force  in 
various  diseases;  but  the  limits  of  this  book  will  not  permit. 
I wall  merely  state  that  by  this  means  I have  cured  many  cases 
of  nervous  affections  and  numerous  other  forms  of  disease 
coming  under  the  head  of  chronic.  Many  of  these  cases  hav- 
ing first  tried  the  ordinary  method  of  cure  without  success. 

The  results  attained  by  this  force  in  those  diseases  incident 
to  women,  especially  entitle  it  to  the  consideration  of  the 
profession  as  an  auxiliary  treatment  in  such  cases. 

In  fact  Personal  Magnetism  is  a scientific  fact.  If  it  be 
not  a fact,  “then  do  no  facts  exist  in  any  department  of  science.” 
That  it  has  proved  itself  a most  powerful  therapeutic  means, 
is  also  a fact.  Such  being  the  case,  the  duty  of  the  medical 
profession  in  regard  to  this  matter  is  perfectly  plain. 

The  origin  of  Personal  Magnetism  is  coeval  with  the  crea- 
tion of  Eve.  The  extremely  subtile  and  invisible  fluid,  which 
when  in  contact  wdth  the  animal  brain,  is  capable  of  perform- 
ing all  the  phenomena  of  this  wonderful  science,  had  existed 


OB  SUBE  SEOBETS  OF  SUCCESS 


105 


millions  on  millions  of  years  anterior  to  the  creation  of  man, 
and  is  probably  coeval  with  creation  itself.  The  sun’s  rays 
must  pass  through  a suitable  medium  to  cause  the  phenom- 
enon of  light — so  this  invisible  fluid  continued  unknown, 
though  not  inactive,  until  some  of  its  inherent  properties  were 
developed  in  passing  through  a suitable  medium,  which  was 
found  to  be  the  complicate  and  delicate  brain  of  the  highest 
order  in  the  organized  forms  of  creation. 

The  most  learned  among  men  are  but  children  in  embryo, 
when  their  researches  in  science  are  compared  with  the  vast 
and  unlimited  fleld  which  remains  unexplored.  Innumerable 
are  the  forms  imprinted  on  the  brain  in  the  life  time  of  man. 
Each  form  was  a phenomenon;  each  in  turn  became  familiar; 
the  whole  becomes  monotonous,  and  the  imagination,  aided  by 
the  inventive  genius  of  the  brain,  seeks  among  the  countless 
millions  of  forms  in  creation  for  some  new  phenomena  to  feed 
the  insatiate  vortex  of  familiar  monotony. 

In  the  eager  desire  to  reach  after  phenomena,  the  reason- 
ing faculties  are  dormant,  and  man  is  capable  only  of  admiring 
the  wonderful  effect  on  his  brain  without  knowing  the  cause 
which  produced  it;  when  with  less  eagerness  and  more  reason, 
man  could  refer  to  his  brain  which  ever  retains  the  impression 
received  from  innumerable  objects,  among  which  may  be  dis- 
covered forms  sufficiently  analagousto  reconcile  the  most  won- 
derful phenomenon  to  the  knowm  and  familiar  laws  of  nature, 
continually  in  opperation  around  us;  so  the  effects  of  Personal 
Magnetism  continued  to  be  seen,  felt  and  admired  in  its  various 
modifications,  long  before  it  received  a name  among  the  sci- 
ences of  the  earth.  In  my  instructions  I give  the  theory  which 
harmonizes  and  reconciles  all  the  phenomena  attending  this 
science,  and  show  the  natural  causes  continually  operating  to 
produce  it.  I likewise,  divest  it  of  every  supernatural  attrib- 
ute which  its  votaries  and  opposers  are  so  zealous  in  ascribing 
to  it.  Enough  for  the  present  chapter  will  show  its  origin, 
its  rise,  and  developments,  under  the  various  wrongly  applied 
names  of  charms,  sorcery,  beguilements,  fortune-telling  by 
the  Gipsies,  and  witchcraft  of  the  ancients  and  moderns. 

The  same  fluid  which  now  unperceived  by  the  keenest  eye, 
is  flowing  through  all  organized  matter,  supporting  life,  when 


106 


HOW  TO  WIN 


ina  jnst  equilibrium,  and  producing  the  effects  called  Pee- 
sonaij  Magnetism,  when  forced  from  its  natural  channel,  was 
in  existence  from  the  creation,  and  commenced  its  unnatural 
effects  on  our  race  in  the  garden  of  Eden.  The  beguilement 
by  the  serpent  was  merely  the  effects  of  this  mysterious  fluid 
operating  on  the  brain  and  nervous  system  of  Eve.  The 
same  fluid  held  Adam  in  a magnetic  sleep  when  he  commit- 
ted the  unholy  deed  for  which,  we,  his  posterity,  are  doomed 
to  suffer  as  penance.  The  snake  at  all  times  has  used  the  same 
fluid  in  subduing  the  f&thered  tribe.  The  charm  attributed 
to  this  reptile,  is  the  self  same  magnetism  which  is  now  the 
subject  of  wonder  in  its  effects  on  the  brain  of  civilized  man. 
The  sorcerers  of  India  knew  the  power  of  this  fluid,  and  used 
it  for  the  vilest  purposes  of  deception.  Witchcraft  in  all 
countries,  was  a branch  of  Personal  Magnetism;  it  was  the 
effect  of  the  magnetic  fluid,  called  a “volition  of  the  will,  ema- 
nating from  the  witch  by  the  animal  force  of  the  nerves;”  the 
“bewitched”  was  the  needle  obeying  the  will  of  the  magnet, 
and  exhibiting  all  the  phenomena  common  to  the  present  sci- 
ence of  Magnetism.  The  rat  catcher’s  charm  and  the  soothing 
power  possessed  by  many  of  curing  scalded  and  burned  flesh, 
are  volitions  of  the  will,  and  modified  branches  of  this  hereto- 
fore intricate  science. 

Personal  Magnetism  produces  the  same  and  more  results, 
and  on  persons  wide  awake,  while  they  are  perfectly  conscious 
of  relations  and  things. 

It  has  the  vast  advantage  of  producing  the  same  results 
on  one,  or  a hundred  at  the  sametime! 

Personal  Magnetism  produces  all  the  phenomena,  often 
without  requiring  any  conditions  of  the  patient;  and  it  is  the 
only  theory  that  can  consistently  attempt  to  do  so;  it  produces 
results,  and  tells  how  they  are  produced,  when  no  conditions 
whatever  are  required  of  the  patient! 

Personal  Magnetism  operates  without  always  requiring 
any  conditions  from  the  attending  spectators!  Thus  multi- 
tudes have  been  affected  and  brought  completely  under  cen- 
tre*! while  there  has  been  any  amount  of  noise,  mirth  and  ex- 
citement throughout  the  entire  audience.  In  thousands  of 
instances  persons  have  been  controled  immediately  in  their 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


107 


muscular  emotions  and  mental  impressions,  in  public  audi- 
ences, when  they  were  overwhelmed  with  emotion,  and  carried 
almost  to  phrenzy  in  their  excitement. 

Personal  Magnetism  operates  on  the  entire  audience  at 
one  and  the  same  time,  a thing  never  attempted  or  done  by 
any  other  theory,  old  or  new. 

From  the  earliest  times  recorded  in  history  we  observe 
well  authenticated  accounts  of  persons  appearing  at  various 
times,  who  seemed  to  be  endowed  with  supernatural  powers  of 
mind  or  body,  which  have  enabled  them  to  influence  their  fel- 
low men  in  a manner  altogether  inexplicable,  according  to  any 
ordinary"  laws  of  nature. 

Among  the  evidences  of  this  fact  we  may  mention  the  his- 
tory of  the  ancient  oracJes,  to  which  the  wisest  philosophers 
of  antiquity  bowed  with  a reverence  that  we  now  consider 
superstitious;  the  power  of  curing  diseases  by  the  touch,  car- 
ried to  an  extent  that  seems  to  ordinary  comprehension,  abso- 
lutely miraculous;  the  influence  possessed  by  great  orators  and 
certain  religious  impostors,  who  have  from  time  to  time  led 
thousands  of  seemingly  intelligent  followers  into  the  belief  of 
the  grossest  absurdities  that  the  imagination  of  man  is  capable 
of  inventing;  instance  the  recent  case  and  absurd  teachings  of 
Teed  in  Chicago  and  Swienfurth  in  Rockford,  the  latter  mak- 
ing numerous  followers  believe  that  he  is  a second  Christ;  the 
effects  on  health  and  conduct  produced  by  what  has  been 
termed  witchcraft,  and  attributed  to  the  direct  agency  of  the 
spirit  of  evil,  with  many  other  mysteries  of  a similar  character. 

However  we  may  endeavor  to  rid  ourselves  of  all  belief  in 
these  unusual  and  seemingly  unaccountable  phenomena,  the 
force,  the  multitude  and  the  respectability  of  the  evidence 
compel  us  reluctantly  to  admit  the  truth  of  these  wonderful 
stories.  We  cannot  refuse  to  acknowledge  the  facts,  whatever 
we  may  think  of  theories  and  opinions  based  upon  them. 
That  man  possesses  some  mysterious  power  over  the  feelings, 
thoughts  and  even  the  vital  operations  of  his  fellow-man — a 
power  that  cannot  be  resisted  and  may  be  employed  for  good 
purpose  at  least,  if  not  for  evil  ones — is  a belief  that  has  pre- 
vailed from  the  earliest  times  down  to  the  present  day.  But 
it  is  only  since  the  progress  of  physiology,  electrical  and  mag 


108 


HOW  TO  WII^ 


netio  science,  during  the  last  century,  that  anything  like  a 
theory  or  philosophical  explanation  of  these  curious  facts  has 
been  attempted.  When  it  was  found  out  that  the  nerves  of  an 
animal  could  be  violently  excited  by  a mere  contact  of  ditfer- 
ent  metals,  and  that  a slight  spark  of  electricity,  would  pro- 
duce convulsions  in  the  body  of  a dead  animal,  it  was  very 
natural  that  all  the  unaccountable  effects  produced  upon  the 
human  system  by  external  agents  should  be  attributed  to 
the  subtile  and  invisible  fluid  that  could  thus  seemingly 
awake  the  dead!  The  effects  of  the  electric  shock  on  the  liv- 
ing body,  were  well  calculated  to  cause  a belief  that  the  ner- 
vous system  was  constantly  under  the  influence  of  this  fluid; 
and  numerous  curious  experiments  were  made  which  tended 
to  convince  many  philosophers  that  life  itself  was  but  the  re- 
sult of  the  action  of  electricity  circulating  through  the  nerves, 
and  probably  formed  in  the  brain  for  this  express  purpose, 

When  the  identity  of  electricity  and  lightning  had  been 
proved  by  Dr.  Franklin,  when  the  strange  action  of  metals 
upon  the  nerves  was  traced  to  the  same  general  cause,  and 
when  it  was  discovered  that  the  wonderful  power  of  the  mag- 
netic needle  to  point  to  one  fixed  spot  in  the  heavens  could 
be  given,  taken  away,  or  altered  by  lightning,  electricity  or 
galvanism,  it  is  not  surprising  that  those  who  considered  elec- 
tricity as  the  vital  principle,  should  give  the  name  of  Personal 
Magnetism  to  the  power  by  which  one  individual  appeared  to 
be  able  to  draw  or  attract  another. 

Man  has  the  faculty  of  excercising  over  his  fellow  men  a 
salutary  influence  in  directing  towards  them,  by  liis  will,  the 
vital  principle. 

The  name  of  Personal  Magnetism  has  been  given  to  this 
faculty;  it  is  an  extention  of  thp  power  which  all  living  beings 
have,  of  acting  upon  those  who  submitted  to  their  wTll. 

We  perceive  this  faculty  only  by  its  results;  and  we  make 
no  use  of  it,  except  so  far  as  we  will  use  it. 

It  appears  from  observation  that  the  rules  are  subject  to 
some  exceptions;  for  there  are  a few  persons  so  happily  consti- 
tuted, that  they  have  been  known  to  magnetize  others  without 
any  intention,  and  even  when  tli3y  had  no  faith  in  the  science; 
but  these  cases  very  seldom  occur.  Many  of  the  wonderful 


OB  SUBE  SECBETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


109 


effects  of  oratory,  and  certain  religious  exercises,  as  well  as 
the  personal  influence  of  some  physicians  in  curing  the  sick 
by  their  manner  and  presence,  almost  without  medicine,  are 
probably  owing  to  a magnetic  influence,  of  which  the  actors 
are  themselves  unconscious. 

There  is  a wonderful  and  all  sufficient  power  in  nature 
operating  by  its  own  occult  law  and  living  energy;  as  grand  as 
it  is  mysterious;  surpassing  the  knowledge  of  untutored  intel- 
lect; as  extensive  as  the  illimitable  universe.  All  space  is  full 
of  this  power,  and  alive  with  its  omnipotent  energy;  all  na- 
ture is  full  of  its  manifestations,  and  reveals  its  power  and 
presence  in  everything — every  moment  of  time.  It  is  heakd 
in  the  murmuring  breeze,  in  the  howling  winds,  in  the  roar- 
ing ocean,  in  the  quaking  earth,  and  in  the  pealing  thunder; 
it  is  SEEN  in  the  shining  sun,  in  the  glistening  stars,  and  in 
the  flashing  lightning;  it  is  felt  in  the  balmy  air,  in  the  min. 
eral  magnet,  in  the  perfuming  vegetable,  in  the  electric  eel, 
in  the  charming  serpent,  in  the  magnetic  man,  and  in  the  fas- 
cinating woman. 

This  wonderful  power  has  been  employed  to  some  extent 
by  the  learned,  and  wise,  and  brave  of  all  ages — by  the  African 
vou-doo,  the  Chaldean  astrologer,  the  Persian  magi,  the  Hin- 
doo fakir,  the  Egyptian  priest,  the  Hebrew  prophet,  and  by 
the  wonder-workers  of  all  ages  and  climes.  But  it  is  only  in 
modern  times,  and  but  very  recently,  that  this  vast  and  unlim^ 
ited  power  has  been  known  and  employed  successfully.  An- 
cient sag!-s  and  medieval  philosophers  strove  in  vain  to  solve 
the  problem  and  find  the  power.  It  remained  for  the  present- 
day  scientists,  with  their  better  knowledge,  clearer  light,  and 
higher  perception,  to  break  the  seal,  unlock  the  door  of 
nature,  discover  the  power,  and  reveal  its  method  of  opera- 
tion. This  now  has  been  done,  making  a plain  science  of 
what  v/as  an  impenetrable  mystery  and  making  its  processes 
so  plain  that  any  intelligent  man  or  woman  can  learn  to  em- 
ploy its  invincible  power  with  wonderful  success,  excelling  the 
marvels  of  the  past  as  far  as  day  excels  night. 

Both  men  and  women  possess  this  power  in  an  equal  de- 
gree, but  moral  and  intellectual  superiority  causes  different 
degrees  of  power.  Good  health  also  increases  the  power,  be- 


110 


HOW  TO  WIN 


cause  it  is  a mark  of  vital  energy.  When  all  these  advantages 
In  a high  degree  are  combined  in  one  individual,  he  is  often 
found  to  possess  such  magnetic  power  that  sometimes  he  may 
be  obliged  to  modify  it.  The  power  is  very  much  increased 
by  practice. 

The  magnetic  influence  flows  from  all  parts  of  the  body, 
and  the  will  may  direct  it  anywhere;  but  the  hands  and  the 
eyes  are  better  fitted  than  other  parts  to  throw  off  and  direct 
the  current  directed  by  the  will. 

Magnetism  can  be  conveyed  to  great  distances  when  per- 
sons are  in  peiTect  communication. 

There  are  some  individuals  who  are  sensible  of  magnetic 
action;  and  the  same  individuals  are  more  or  less  so,  according 
to  their  temporary  dispositions  at  that  moment. 

We  have  endeavored  to  raise  human  magnetism  to  a fixed 
science,  ascertain  its  proper  laws  and  conaitions,  and  take 
away  the  dark  veil  of  obscurity  that  had  heretofore  enshroud- 
ed it,  and  raise  it  from  the  dust  in  which  ignorant  pretenders 
had  trailed  it,  and  make  it  a sublime  power  available  for  the 
promotion  of  human  happiness,  and  that  we  have  succeeded 
the  many  wonderful  cures  that  we  have  made,  and  happiness 
promoted,  is  incontestible  evidence. 

The  character  of  our  most  earnest  patrons  is  a matter  of 
great  satisfaction  to  us;  for  while  it  embraces  all  classes,  yet  a 
very  large  proportion  of  our  warmest  friends  are  from  the 
learned  professions  and  the  shrewd  business  men  of  the  coun- 
try— men  not  to  be  deceived  by  the  visionary  (*r  unreal — who, 
having  seen  wonders  wrought  in  their  own  lives  or  among 
intimate  friends  are  willing  to  put  pen  to  iDaper,  unsolicited, 
and  deliberately  assure  us  that  $1,000  or  $5,000  would  not 
tempt  them  to  part  with  this  knowledge  if  it  could  not  be 
replaced. 

The  author  of  this  wonderful  method,  while  producing 
and  perfecting  it,  by  many  years  of  discovery,  invention,  and 
experiment,  has  established  beyond  successful  contradiction 
the  facts  following: 

That  all  disease  is  but  a decrease  of  vital  force. 

That  both  health  and  disease  depend  upon  the  electrical 
conditions  of  the  body. 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


Ill 


That  with  this  method  we  absolutely  control  the  electrical 
condition  of  the  body,  overcome  the  process  of  disease,  and 
restore  the  patient  to  health  with  a rapidity  hitherto  unknown 
and  we  unhesitatingly  pronounce  that  for  safety,  certainty, 
and  success,  ib  has  no  equal  as  a curative  agent. 

It  is  a dignified,  exalted,  fascinating  study,  health  giving- 
in  its  nature,  producing  a pleasant  current  in  the  stream  of 
life,  giving  buoyancy  to  the  health,  steadiness  to  the  nerves, 
activity  to  the  brain,  cheerfulness  to  the  disposition,  manli- 
ness and  womanliness  to  the  character,  kindness  to  the  heart, 
and  influence  to  the  entire  person.  It  might  be  used  basely 
by  the  lawyer  in  handling  witnesses  and  juries,  by  the  speaker 
in  misleading  audience;^by  the  lover  to  win  his  choice  or  the 
lady  to  conquer  her  sweet-heart,  but  for  the  fact  that  such 
debasement  is  unworthy  the  honor  of  the  true  student  of  any 
art,  and  beneath  the  dignity  of  respectable  people. 

The  great  secrets  which  I propose  to  unfold,  are  arranged 
in  parts,  each  giving  certain  exercises  which  develop  Magne- 
tism, at  the  same  time  building  up  the  physical  man.  To  study 
these  lessons  is  to  gain  a fund  of  physiological,  pathological 
and  therapeutical  knowledge  that  a hundred  times  the  cost  of 
the  lessons  would  not  purchase  from  its  owner  could  it  be 
given  back  and  blotted  from  his  memory. 

New  revelations  are  taught,  enabling  any  one,  as  it  were, 
to  live  a new'  or  double  life,  and  thus  enjoy  The  Gkeatest 
Bliss  Ever  Known  to  mortals  here  or  elsewhere.  To  under- 
stand the  art  is  to  gain  the  very  throne  of  perfection  itself. 

With  these  secrets  in  one’s  possession,  everything  of  a 
mysterious  nature  wdll  disappear  as  rapidly  as  the  dew  van- 
ishes before  the  sun,  and  this  Sublime,  Beneflcial  and  Glorious 
Science  will  shine  forth  in  magnificent  splendor,  adding  joy 
and  comfort,  as  well  as  long  life,  health,  pleasure  and  happi- 
ness. Bear  in  mind  that  the  science,  or  art,  is  here  divested 
of  mystery,  and  made  so  simple  that  any  one  can  readily  un- 
derstand, become  familiar  with,  and  successfully  practice  it. 

Some  may  call  me  at  first  an  enthusiast,  or  may  think  I am 
afflicted  with  a species  of  monomania  on  the  subject.  If  so, 
there  is  some  “ method  in  my  madness.”  I have  a double 
interest  at  stake — yours  and  mine.  I devote  my  time  and 


112 


HOW  TO  WIN 


attention  wholly  to  the  subject,  and  seek  a reasonable  remun. 
eration  for  my  services.  I endeavor  to  give  true  value  for 
money  paid  me — it  cannot  be  expected  that  all  my  labor  and 
expenditure  is  gratuitous. 

You  are  dealing  with  one  who  is  not  ashamed  of  his  pro- 
fession, but  is  proud  of  being  a teacher  of  this  wonderful 
science. 

This  wonderful  art  which  has  cost  me  more  than  fifteen 
years  of  the  most  careful  study  and  experimentation,  is  furn- 
ished with  the  understanding  that  outsiders  are  not  entitled 
to  the  benefits  of  its  revelations  unless  they  shall  procure  the 
same  direct  from  me. 

In  divulging  these  Secrets  we  are  obliged  to  require  a 
“Pledge  of  Honor”  from  those  purchasing  them,  not  to  show 
or  reveal  their  contents  in  any  way.  This  is  for  our  own  pro- 
tection, and  is  the  only  means  by  which  our  just  rights  in  the 
discoveries  can  be  maintained. 

This  New  System  should  be  studied  particularly  by  those 
whose  lives  have  been  failures.  Those  who  acquire  Personal 
Magnetism  are  “masters  of  the  situation.”  Anyone  can  learn 
this  Wonderful  art,  and  will  find  in  it  the  secret  of  success  in 
all  matters  relating  to  matrimony,  business,  social  and  profes- 
sional life. 

As  there  are  no  two  persons  exactly  alike  in  the  world, 
there  must  necessarily  be  special  instructions  suited  to  the 
condition,  temperament,  age  and  heal  th  of  each  person,  w^hich 
guarantees  to  all  a successful  accomplishment  of  this  work. 

All  I need  to  know  to  fully  understand  your  case,  is  to 
receive  answers  to  certain  questions  which  will  be  asked  you 
at  the  proper  time;  this  makes  our  plan  especially  valuable,  as 
it  deals  privately  with  you. 

Parties  interested  in  the  matter  should  write  the  author 
for  further  particulars. 


Declaration  of  Love, 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


* DIFFERFNT  KINDS  OF  MAGNETISM. 

‘‘  HE  time  has  come  when  man’s  intellectual  powers 


have  attained  that  degree  of  unfoldment,  wherein  it  is 
possible,  in  a measure  at  least,  to  consider  the  orign,  the 
action  and  the  development  of  human  life,  dispass.on* 
ately,  without  fear  of  offending  those  peculiar  prejudices, 
evolved  through  theological  training,  that  have  done  so 
much  toward  coloring  man’s  understanding  of  God,  of 
nature  and  himself.” 

It  must  be  understood,  that  all  living  bodies  are  sur- 
rounded by  magnetic  emanations  which,  in  turn,  attract 
to  themselves,  or  repel,  other  magnetic  spheres  with 
which  they  are  brought  in  contact;  this  magnetism  being 
the  direct  outcome  of  the  animal  soul,  and  bearing  no 
direct  relationship  to  the  human  spirit,  whatever.  These 
spheres  are  responsive  to  each  other,  forming  what  is 
called  a magnetic  attraction,  which,  until  it  be  under  the 
guidance  of  a superior  itelligence,  usually  results  in  dis- 
aster and  misfortune.  These  attractions  are  only  pleas- 
ureable  while  they  are  unsatisfied  ; but,  the  moment 

*Selected  from  ^‘Mail’s  Spiritual  Possibilities”  by  Dr.  J.  W. 
Fletcher;  price  $1.50. 


113 


114 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


“All  are  parts  of  one  stupenduous  whole, 

Whose  body  nature  is,  and  God  the  soul.“ 

that  one  finds  a complement  in  the  other,  then,  such  an 
one  is  filled  to  satiety  with  the  element  he  craved,  and, 
at  once,  seeks  another  sphere.  Therefore,  there  will  be 
a continuous  changing  of  relationships  of  this  kind, 
which,  while  they  are  evanescent  and  fickle  in  their  na- 
ture, and  often  leave  the  individual  open  to  a charge  of 
this  kind,  are,  in  no  sense,  an  evidence  of  the  interior 
life. 

The  laws  of  magnetic  attraction  and  repulsion  are  ripe 
for  the  deepest  discussion,  analysis  and  consideration, 
since,  upon  them,  so  much  depends  relating  to  human 
happiness  and  development.  Opposites  attract  each 
other;  that  is  to  say,  a quality  most  lacking  in  a person 
will  impress  itself,  most,  when  possessed  by  another.  A 
coarse  nature  readily  reaches  out  toward  a more  refined 
one;  and,  not  infrequently,  we  find  that  the  more  refined 
seeks  that  which  is  beneath  it.  Not,  however,  in  the 
first  instance;  but,  the  moment  it  has  become  responsive 
to  the  strong  and  permeating  sway  of  a powerful,  mag- 
netic sphere,  it  is  enveloped,  therein,  to  such  a degree, 
as  to  render  thought  and  consequent  judgment  an  im- 
possibility. This  reaches  to  the  brain  centers,  which 
are  the  seat  of  physical  life,  and  so  narcotizes  the  vari- 
ous departments  as  to  result  in  an  incapacity  for  thought 
or  consistent  action.  To  reason  with  such  an  one,  drunk 
with  magnetism,  is  the  height  of  folly;  he  must  live  out 
his  own  experience,  which  is  usually  fraught  with  endless 
trouble  and  sorrow  to  all  concerned. 

The  magnetic  waves  ramify  the  entire  physical  sys- 
tem, and  will,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  result  in  its  com- 
plete subjection;  or,  if  by  trick  of  circumstance,  the 
spirit  of  the  individual  gains  the  ascendency,  it  will 
produce,  ultimately,  a complete  repulsion  by  an  inver- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


11 


sion  of  the  same  law.  In  illustration  of  this,  we  would 
call  attention  to  the  numberless  persons  who  are,  daily 
seen  in  the  closest  relationship  with  each  other,  between 
whom  there  could  not  be  a single  thought  in  common — 
thought  being  incongrous  with  the  situation,  and  is  rarely 
indulged  in,  under  these  circumstances.  To  be  sure, 
when  one  is  absent  from  the  other,  there  will  be,  for  the 
time  being,  a partial  awakening;  resolves  are  made,  and 
a line  of  action  determined  upon,  which  is  much  to  the 
credit  of  the  individual.  Friends,  who,  by  strenuous 
efforts,  have  opposed  the  alliance,  will  be  encouraged 
by  the  thought  that  its  end  is  near,  and  feel  that  the  ob- 
ject of  their  sympathy  has,  at  last,  come  to  his  or  her 
senses.  But,  no  sooner  is  there  a possibility  of  the  old 
relation  being  resumed,  than  resolves  take  to  themselves 
wings,  and  a worse  state  than  before  follows.  Absence 
is  said  to  make  the  heart  grow  fonder;  but,  in  reality, 
if  transcribed  into  a common-sense;  understanding  of 
the  situation,  it  means  that  the  surplus  magnetism  re- 
ceived during  the  days  or  months  of  association  has 
exhausted  itself;  and,  when  reunion  takes  place,  there 
is  a greater  demand  for  the  element,  which  found  a re- 
sponsive return  in  the  nature. 

The  only  way  to  kill,  counteract  or  destroy  magnetic 
attractions  of  the  purely  physical  order,  is  to  dominate 
them  by  spiritual  development,  or,  allow  them  to  become 
surfeited  with  the  very  element  they,  apparently,  so 
earnestly  seek.  Opposition  to  those  who  are  thus  af- 
fected, will  do  little  towards  changing  the  result,  into 
whatever  department  of  life  it  may  enter.  It  will, 
rather,  intensify  the  situation,  as  a breeze  fans  the  fire, 
until  it  bursts  into  an  uncontrollable  blaze,  consuming 
all  around  it.  The  on-looker  can,  from  his  stand-point. 


16 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


see  the  mistake,  and  endeavor  to  counteract  its  effect; 
but  those,  who  are  being  engulfed,  never  see  it — nor  do 
they  wish  to,  blindness  to  them,  for  the  moment,  being 
preferable. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  we  are  speaking,  wholly,  of 
the  relations  existing  between  men  and  women;  but 
this  law  is  equally  apparent  in  all  of  the  relations  of 
life;  and  the  most  practical-minded  business  man  is 
quite  as  susceptible  to  the  influnce  of  his  stronger  mag- 
netic associates,  as  are  the  young  who  are  just  embark- 
ing upon  the  mysterious  sea  of  life.  Many  a man  can 
trace  Lis  ruin  back  to  the  influence  of  some  fascinating 
adviser  who,  completely,  swayed  his  judgment  and  led 
him  into  schemes  and  business  ventures  which,  in  a 
sane  moment,  uninfluenced,  he  would  have  repudiated, 
almost  without  thought;  and  yet  under  the  genial  rays 
of  a positive  magnetic  sphere,  he  became  an  enthusi- 
astic advocate  of  ventures  which  carried  destruction, 
like  a cyclone,  in  their  path.  His  friends  could  all  see 
it;  they  raised  the  warning  finger,  whispered  the  words 
of  admonitory  advice  in  his  ear,  and  presumed,  upon 
various  occasions,  to  question  both  his  judgment  and 
ability,  and,  sometimes,  his  honesty,  producing,  how- 
ever, no  result,  beyond  the  suggestion  that  they  were 
no  longer  his  friends  or,  inspired  by  jealousy,  had  not 
the  same  acumen  and  penetration  with  which  he,  him- 
self, was  blessed.  To  him,  the  failure  of  the  scheme, 
to-day,  means  nothing.  Quotations  of  the  market  are 
no  sign  whatever  to  go  by;  he  will  cling  to  his  forlorn 
hope  to  the  end;  and,  with  the  feverish  excitement  of 
the  gamester,  ruin  himself,  his  family  and  all  concerned. 
Frequently,  however,  he  will  awaken  to  his  mistake 
when  it  is  too  late — so  he  thinks,  at  least;  but  will  con- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


117 


tinue  to  push  forward,  with  the  fervor  of  despair,  know- 
ing too  well  what  the  end  must  be. 

We  do  not  believe  that  there  is  as  much  absolute  and 
intentional  dishonesty  in  the  world,  as  many  assert; 
but,  we  are  prepared  to  say  that  men  are  self-deceived 
in  their  sins;  that  they  are  so  filled  with  the  magnetic 
elements  of  their  associates,  or,  of  the  very  scheme  it- 
self, that  their  judgment  and  ability  are  no  longer  in 
operation,  and  are,  consequently,  sacrificed  upon  its 
altar.  You  see  them  in  the  after-years,  weary,  worn 
and  broken,  vainly  trying  to  understand  the  great  cause 
that  worked  their  ruin,  and  never  quite  mastering  it. 

Again,  there  are  some  persons  who  are  responsive  to 
a purely  earthly  magnetism,  in  which  the  association 
of  individuals  plays  no  part  whatever,  or,  if  so,  an  in- 
consequential one.  This  magnetism  may  emanate,  en- 
tirely, from  the  physical  universe;  as  a result,  men  get 
the  land  fever,  the  gold  fever,  and  similar  effects,  evi- 
dences of  which  have  marked,  to  a great  degree,  some 
phases  of  our  present  civilization.  Luck  does  not  play 
so  important  a part  in  the  lives  of  men  as  is  accredited 
to  it;  but,  if  the  personal  influence  of  successful  men, 
in  the  various  departments  of  external  life,  could  be 
properly  understood,  it  would  be  found  to  possess  a 
distinct  magnetic  quality  which  attracts,  to  itself,  cer- 
tain elements,  out  of  which  material  success  is  made. 
Thus,  you  find  men  of  no  parlicular  ability,  and,  cer- 
tainly, no  innate  goodness,  making  the  most  gigantic 
fortunes,  which  they  lock  up  in  gilt-edge  securities,  re- 
gardless of  the  bible  injunction;  and,  as  members  of 
church  organizations,  are  loudest  in  their  profession  of 
religion.  To  such  men  the  profit  and  loss  column  is 
their  sole  religious  standard;  and,  while  they  loudly 


118 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


proclaim  the  teachings  of  the  Master,  they  are  equally 
as  conspicuous  in  failing  to  perform  His  will. 

The  story  of  the  young  man  who  had  served  the 
Lord  in  all  things,  save  one,  and  was  told  to  go  and 
sell  that  which  he  had  and  give  it  to  the  poor,  but,  instead 
of  doing  this,  departed,  with  a sad  face,  would  find  a 
repetition,  if  the  Lord  were  to  give  the  same  command 
to  the  Vanderbilts,  the  Rothschilds  or  the  Sages,  of  this 
present  time,  without  any  change  in  their  facial  expres- 
sion. He  simply  could  not  do  it;  no  more  can  they. 
Great  w^ealth  is  attracted  to  them  by  a force  which  can 
not  be  broken,  even  though — if  they  believe  their  own 
assertions — the  future  welfare  of  the  soul,  through  eter- 
nity, is  dependent  upon  it.  Arguments,  from  a spiritu- 
al basis,  have  little,  if  any,  effect  upon  those  who  have 
material  interests  at  stake,  albeit  the  line  that  is  fol- 
lowed is  a legitimate  sequence  to  the  principles  so  per- 
sistantly  advocated.  There  is,  apparently,  a certain 
code  for  business,  which  does  not  apply  to  the  religious 
life  of  the  individual. 

The  only  way  in  which  this  direct  magnetic  influ- 
ence can  be  broken,  or  partially  counteracted,  is,  by 
separating  one’s  self  from  it,  so  far  as  is  possible;  and, 
in  the  silence  of  your  own  room,  freed  from  the  irrita- 
tion and,  oftentimes,  controlling  influences  of  the  out- 
side world,  to  carefully  consider  what  one’s  relation- 
ship is  to  one’s  self.  Sleeping  on  a subject  over  night 
before  giving  a decision,  is  the  carrying  out  of  this 
idea,  which  means,  getting  away  from  all  external  in- 
fluences and  being  left  alone  with  the  subject  in  hand. 
The  first  impressions  of  the  day  are,  by  far,  the  best; 
and,  if  accepted  for  guidance,  will  rarely  lead  their 
possessor  astray. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


119 


There  is  far  too  little  repose  in  the  world;  far  too  lit- 
tle time  devoted  to  thought,  or  the  purposes  that  make 
up  the  duties  of  life.  Self-examination  is  seldom  in- 
dulged in;  men  pride  themselves,  as  a rule,  upon  their 
ability  to  answer,  off  hand,  any  question  that  may  pre- 
sent itself,  no  matter  how  important;  and  one-half  of 
life  is,  not  infrequently,  spent  in  the  endeavor  to  recti- 
fy the  mistakes  of  the  other  half.  It  is  not  the  amount 
of  work  done,  but  the  care  and  efficiency  with  which 
it  is  laid  out,  that  produces  the  best  and  most  satisfac- 
tory returns.  An  effort  should  always  be  made  to 
diversify  the  daily  life,  as  much  as  possible.  Far  more 
recuperation  will  be  found  in  a variety  of  employments 
than  would,  at  first,  be  imagined;  for,  this  calls  into  ex- 
ercise all  of  the  various  capacities  of  the  individual, 
and,  consequently,  rounds  him  out,  physically  and 
mentally.  The  general  habit  of  having  months  of  in- 
cessant labor  and  a week  or  two  of  absolute  rest,  does 
not  accord  with  the  idea.  The  former  absolutely  unfits 
the  individual  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  latter;  and, 
during  the  few  weeks  devoted  to  rest,  every  man  will 
find  his  mind  continually  returning  to  the  Stock  Ex- 
change, to  be  appalled  at  the  accumulation  of  work 
that  he  feels  is  awaiting  his  return  to  active  life.  He 
has  been  so  long  susceptible  to  the  positive  magnet- 
ism of  the  financial  world,  that,  when  he  walks  through 
the  green  fields  or  the  shaded  wood  of  the  country,  he 
is  still  amenable  to  it;  and,  finding  the  days  are  drag- 
ging along  with  a snail-like  pace,  he,  absolutely,  longs 
for  the  excitement  of  the  old  life  again.  If  he  had 
diversified  the  days  of  his  activity  with  something  of 
rest,  he  would  have  been  able  to  do  better  work,  ac- 
complish higher  results,  and  saved  a vast  amount  of 


120 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


ammunition  and  strength.  This  is  especially  written 
for  the  business  men  of  the  present  day;  and,  if  per- 
chance, their  eyes  rests  upon  these  words,  they  would 
do  well  to  pause  and  think  of  their  true  meaning,  and 
allow  it  to  suggest  a remedy  for  the  fret  and  irritation 
that  afflict  them. 

After  the  end  of  the  day,  there  is  a great  diminu- 
tion of  magnetic  force — it  has  been  thrown  off  by 
thought,  and  through  contact  with  men  and  things,  and 
the  various  interests  of  life.  To  swing  into  another 
form  of  more  intensified  excitement  is  not  to  find  an 
avenue  by  which  this  lost  force  can  be,  readily,  made 
up.  Nor,  is  the  living  over  again  of  the  experiences  of 
the  day  calculated  to  produce  it;  for  that,  simply, 
means  borrowing  from  reserved  forces.  Thus,  we  see 
care  written  all  over  the  faces  of  our  most  prosperous 
men,  and  the  young  grown  old  before  their  time.  If, 
in  place  of  all  this,  the  business  could  be  left,  each  day, 
in  the  counting-room,  where  it  belongs,  and  a new  state 
of  interests,  pleasures,  studies,  duties  and  employments 
taken  up,  with  the  home  life,  we  should  find  that  the 
next  generation  would  be  quieter,  more  self-centered, 
more  honest  and  more  moral  than  is  the  present  one. 
Every  man  should  be  interested  in  his  family,  in  music 
and  in  animal  life;  an  hour  on  horseback,  an  hour  with 
music,  an  hour  with  the  writers  and  the  philosophers, 
or,  in  any  direction  that  the  desire  may  direct,  apart 
from  the  duties  of  the  day,  will  do  more  to  further 
man’s  intellectual  development,  elevate  his  conception 
of  humanity,  and  bless  his  own  life,  than  anything  that 
we  could  suggest.  The  objection,  that  there  is  no  time 
for  these  things,  is  best  answered  by  stating  that  the 
time  now  devoted  to  considering  how  worn  out  and 


OR  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


121 


tired  you  are,  can  be  employed  with  better  results 
through  the  introduction  of  some  amusement  or  em- 
ployment of  this  kind,  since  it  will  take  a man  out  of 
himself  and,  through  a sympathetic  action  of  the  mind, 
bring  him  into  magnetic  relationship  with  other  spheres 
of  action,  which  are  bound  to  be  helpful  and  bene- 
ficial. 

If  we  have  devoted  a considerable  amount  of  space 
to  this  thought,  and  seemed  to  have  digressed  some- 
what, it  is  because  there  is  a great  demand  for  a remedy 
for  the  present  disease,  called  unrest,  which  has  become 
almost  epidemic,  and  is  due  to  a surplus  amount  of  one 
kind  of  magnetism,  which  the  individual,  through  his 
intensity  of  purpose,  attracts,  and  the  almost  absolute 
dearth  of  another,  which  he,  with  equal  force,  repels. 
By  attracting,  we  mean,  placing  one’s  self  in  a recept- 
ive state  toward  the  desired  condition  of  result.  This 
can  only  be  done  through  fixed  determination,  which 
places  the  personality  in  such  relationship  with  the  pur- 
pose, in  view,  as  to  accomplish  the  desired  end. 

Beyond  stating  that  the  mind  is  in  general  affiliation 
with  the  body,  we  shall  not  deal  with  mental  conditions 
here.  It,  however,  becomes  necessary  to  say,  that  the 
reason  why  the  mind  so  seldom  evidences  its  intelli- 
gence, when  the  body  is  under  strong  magnetic  sway, 
is  that  this  self-same  magnetism  dispossesses  the  body 
of  mental  control,  and,  really,  throws  both  the  mind 
and  the  spirit  out  of  their  moral  relationship  there- 
with. In  criticising  a person,  thus  influenced,  you  are 
prone  to  say  he  acts  without  either  reason  or  sense; 
and  you  are  passing  a just  conclusion,  since  the  power 
to  reason  is  lost,  almost,  and  the  senses  are  not  in  full 
activity. 


122 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Having  made  this  clear,  we  now  enter  in  upon  the 
law  whereby  persons  may  attract  given  elements  unto 
themselves.  ^‘Seek,  and  ye  shall  find/'  is  particularly 
applicable  to  the  present  situation.  With  the  desire  to 
attain  a given  purpose,  one  is  enabled  to  draw  the  ele- 
ments of  that  purpose  to  himself.  Sometimes,  this  is 
done  without  the  desire;  but  that  is  when  the  elements 
are  so  assertive,  within  one's  sphere,  that  they  are  en- 
abled to  act  of  themselves,  without  any  mental  direc- 
tion whatsoever.  If  you  are  ill,  weak  or  worn,  physi- 
cally, association  with  persons  afflicted,  in  like  manner, 
will  not,  in  any  sense,  assist  in  your  recuperation.  You 
must  place  yourself  with  those  who  are  not  disturbed 
in  the  direction  that  you  are,  yourself;  for,  health  is  as 
contagious  as  disease — Mr.  Ingersoll,  to  the  contrary — 
and  life  gives  life. 

Much  of  the  disease  in  the  world  is  caused  by  the 
inharmonious  arrangement  of  the  magnetic  elements 
within  one's  self;  and  anything  that  will  induce  har- 
mony in  this  direction,  will  lead  to  a healthful  result. 
We  are  inclined  to  make  the  authoritative  statement, 
that  health  means  harmony  with  one's  self  and  the  phy- 
sical universe,  and,  that  disease  is,  simply,  its  opposite. 
The  angular,  irritable  person  will,  in  a short  time,  pro- 
duce a debilitating  effect  upon  every  one  with  whom 
he  is  brought  in  contact;  while  a jolly,  happy  fund  of 
good  nature  lightens  the  life  of  every  one  with  whom 
it  is  brought  into  association.  Age  should  seek  the 
companionship  of  youth;  music  will  produce  a harmo- 
ny within,  and  bring  forgetfulness  of  care  and  trouble; 
while  association  with  animals,  which  are,  by  the  way, 
especially  magnetic,  and  far  more  sympathetic  than  is 
generally  supposed,  does  much  to  build  up  the  deple- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


123 


tion  which  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  day  has  produced. 
But,  to  these  accessories,  must  be  added  a desire  for 
the  purpose  in  view. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  get  any  amount  of  good 
from  these  associations  if,  at  the  same  time,  there  was 
a turning  toward  the  things  one  is  aiming  to  forget,  or, 
a lack  of  interest  in  obtaining  both  happiness  and 
health.  If,  when  with  your  horse,  you  are  still  calcu- 
lating the  profits  of  the  day's  venture,  he  can  do  little, 
beyond  reflecting  your  own  feverish  irritability;  on  the 
other  hand,  should  you,  instead  of  riding  like  mad, 
consider  his  peculiarities  of  nature,  and  physical  com- 
fort, you  will  bring  yourself  down  to  his  plane  of  life, 
and  receive,  from  him,  more  health  and  strength  than 
the  most  distinguished  physician  could  impart  to  you, 
or  the  strongest  stimulants  induce. 

If  there  is  much  to  be  gained  from  magnetic  assi- 
milation, there  is,  at  times,  as  much  to  be  lost;  and,  it 
were  well  to  consider  how  to  repel  untoward  influences, 
which  will  haunt  you,  for  hours  and  days,  after  being 
brought  into  relationship  with  them.  One  needs  to  be 
especially  careful  to  preserve  one’s  sympathetic  nature. 
Indiscriminate  listening  to  the  woes  of  your  fellow- 
men,  and  the  exercise  of  the,  so-called,  sympathies 
which  it  induces,  is  deleterious  in  its  results.  Your  first 
duty,  always,  is  to  yourself;  and,  by  the  fulfilment  of 
that  duty,  in  the  extreme  sense,  are  you  the  better  able 
to  help  and  bless  humanity.  You  have  no  right  to  load 
yourself  down  with  the  burdens  of  others,  which  have, 
often,  been  sent  to  teacha  much-neeoed  lesson  to  those 
who,  through  their  own  utter  disregard  of  individual 
responsibility,  are  only  too  willing  to  rail  at  Fate,  and 
take  every  particle  of  assistance  you  may  be  able  to 


124 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


give.  In  moving  through  a crowd,  you  should  avoid 
letting  your  mind  rest  upon  any  individual  in  whom 
yoi  have  not  the  least  interest.  Should  an  accident 
occur,  and  you  know  that  you  are  quite  incapable  ot 
rendering  any  assistance,  instead  of  rushing  to  the 
scene  of  the  disaster,  go  your  appointed  way,  and  leave 
the  unfortunate  victim  to  those  who  are  in  a position  to 
perform  the  required  office.  A man  falls  in  the  street; 
a thousand  other  men,  inspired  by  no  motive,  other 
than  curiosity,  gather  around  him  and  render  it  impos- 
sible for  those  who  have  the  ability,  to  minister  to  his 
interests.  Another,  perhaps,  receives  a severe  injury; 
you  cannot  do  anything  for  him,  as  his  injuries  require 
the  services  of  a physician,  or  a surgeon;  yet,youstand 
and  look  at  the  broken  limbs,  or  the  crushed  skull, 
through  which  the  life-blood  is  slowly  oozing,  and  go 
your  way,  only  when  the  ambulance  arrives  to  bear  the 
victim  to  the  hospital.  All  day  long  your  mind  is 
haunted  by  the  sickening  sight;  you  have  accomplished 
no  good  to  any  one;  but  have,  instead,  placed  yourself 
in  relationship  with  a condition  that  will  completely 
unfit  you  for  the  duties  and  labors  of  the  time.  Such, 
surely,  is  a most  mistaken  kindness,  since  no  good  ob- 
ject is  served.  One  must  use  as  much  discretion  about 
the  exercise  of  one's  sympathies,  as  anything  else.  If 
you  are  in  the  presence  of  those  who  are  ill,  and  desire 
to  protect  yourself  from  their  diseased  condition,  fear 
of  taking  the  malady  will  open  the  door  to  it;  while, 
constantly  placing  your  mind  and  will  upon  health  and 
life,  serves,  largely,  to  protect  you.  To  repel  any  in- 
fluence, think  of  its  opposite;  to  invite  it  or  attract  it, 
dwell  directly  upon  it,  in  its  most  intensified  form.  The 
former  attitude  will  cut  off  all  lines  of  connection. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


125 


while  the  latter  will  serve  to  establish  and  strengthen 
them. 

There  is  a class  of  men  in  whom  this  magnetic  ele- 
ment predominates,  to  an  extraordinary  degree.  Their 
mental  powers  are  especially  active,  but,  to  them,  the 
thought  of  anything  spiritual  is  an  utter  impossibility. 
These  men  are  largely  agnostic  in  their  belief,  talk 
loudly  of  one  world,  at  a time,  and  say,  with  a great 
degree  of  truth,  that  they  have  never  received  any  in- 
timations of  another  state;  and,  strangely  enough,  al- 
though possessed  of  considerable  logical  power,  smile 
incredulously  at  those  who  assert  that,  from  their 
individual  experiences,  this  world,  instead  of  being  the 
end  is  the  means  to  an  end.  So  intense  is  the  sphere 
around  such,  that  they  are  able  to  attract  great  crowds, 
who,  while  they  may  be  opposed  to  every  idea  they  ex- 
pect to  hear  enunciated,  remain  and  listen  with  respect 
and  go  away  charmed  by,  what  they  are  prone  to  call, 
the  brilliancy  of  the  speaker;  but  which  is  nothing 
more  or  less  than  the  result  of  the  magnetic  sway  he 
has  had  over  them.  Ingersoll,  for  instance,  is  an  illus- 
tration of  this  thought.  That  he  is  a man  of  remark- 
able ability,  few  will  deny;  but,  when  it  is  remembered 
that  he  only  calls  people  together  to  listen  to  what  he 
does  not  know,  together  with  an  attack  upon  systems 
of  belief  which,  bad  as  they  may  be,  reveal  the  attempt 
of  man  to  interpret  the  action  of  spiritual  law,  it  is,  to 
say  the  least,  surprising.  We  have  seen  large  crowds 
who  were  prepared  to  deride  and  condemn  this  elo- 
quent expounder  of  the  unknowable,  who,  in  spite  of 
themselves,  became  infected  by  his  peculiar  personal- 
ity, and  went  forth,  after  the  evening  was  done,  believing 
no  more  in  the  ideas  inculcated  than  before  they  heard 


120 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


them;  but,  charmed  with  the  peculiar  influence  of  the 
man,  which  would  cling  to  them,  in  spite  of  their  every 
effort  to  the  contrary.  The  greatest  actors  upon  the 
stage,  whose  names  are  enrolled  upon  the  tablets  of 
history,  are  those  who  were  possessed  of  this  magnetic 
quality,  rather  than  of  any  peculiar  or  particular  intel- 
lectual development.  There  are  those  before  the  pub- 
lic, even  now,  who  may  transgress  every  law,  from  an 
artistic  standpoint,  but,  who  are  able  to  sway  the  pub- 
lic mind,  beyond  all  known  limitations.  And,  there  are 
others  at  the  same  time,  intellectually,  their  peers,  who 
are  most  careful,  conscientious  and  clear  in  their  inter- 
pretations, who  have  not  the  power  of  quickening  the 
pulse  in  the  least  degree.  And  this  something,  which 
produces  so  marked  an  effect,  without  which  little,  if 
any,  impression  can  be  made,  is  called  magnetism,  and 
is  becoming  more  fully  understood  each  day. 

The  scope  of  magnetism  is  almost  incomprehensi- 
ble in  its  vast  extensiveness;  and,  upon  this  plane  of 
life,  it  is  well-nigh  impossible  to  conceive  of  any  con- 
dition of  activity  where  it  is  not.  In  the  lowest  walk 
of  life  you  will  find  it,  as  well  as  in  the  governmental 
halls.  The  gamins,  unconsciously,  exert  its  power  over 
each  other,  and  establish  a precedent  in  their  midst, 
quite  as  pronounced  as  that  which  is  revealed  in  the 
great  political  factions  of  the  day,  that  fashion  and 
shape  the  destiny  of  nations.  It  is  not  the  logic  of  the 
leader  that  constitutes  his  governing  power,  nor  his 
eloquence  or  elegance  of  dictation,  nor  force  of  deliv- 
ery, nor  yet,  what  he  says,  nor  the  manner  in  which  his 
utterances  are  made.  It  is  his  personality,  inducted 
into  his  thoughts  and  words,  wrapping  them  with  his 
invisible  life-force;  which  imparts  a potency  and  power 


library 

Of  THE 

OMiVERSiTY  OF  LL!KO!S 


I 

i‘. 


An  Abuse  of  Personal  Magnetism, 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


127 


almost  irresistible.  This  force  enabled  a man  like  Na- 
poleon to  become  the  terror  of  all  Europe,  and,  in  the 
end,  the  most  easily  conquered  of  its  rulers.  Joan 
d’Arc  inspired  a nation  and  led  an  army  on  to  victory, 
not  through  knowledge  of  war,  or  her  ability  to  cope 
with  the  enemy,  but  through  this  self-same  element 
that  fell  upon  her  followers,  as  the  sun  upon  the  earth, 
awakening,  to  activity,  every  one  of  their  latent  ener- 
gies. The  power  that  Jesus  exercised  over  the  sick 
was,  purely  a magnetic  one;  and  he,  not  infrequently, 
complained  that  the  force  had  gone  out  of  him,  to  that 
extent  that  he  was  unable  to  accomplish  direct  results. 
The  Apostles,  concerning  whom  so  much  has  been 
written,  were  simply  the  magnetic  battery  which  helped 
to  supply  the  great  loss  which  he  experienced,  by  be- 
ing brought  in  contact  with  the  sick  and  the  afflicted, 
who,  continually,  made  enormous  demands  upon  him. 
When  his  followers,  too,  were  exhausted,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  go  into  the  wilderness,  undertake  a season  of 
fasting,  so  as  to  change  the  entire  elements  of  his  sys- 
tem, and,  thereby,  through  direct  contact  with  na- 
ture, re-established  conditions  that  over-use  had  so 
seriously  impaired.  When  this  was  accomplished,  he 
would  again  return  to  the  world,  recuperated;  and, 
with  renewed  strength,  undertake  the  work  of  blessing 
suffering  humanity. 

The  practical  uses  to  which  magnetism  could  be  put 
are  manifold,  and  are  only  just  beginning  to  be  recog- 
nized, by  a few  of  the  wise  men  of  the  world,  who  are 
enabled  to  realize  that,  behind  the  seen,  there  is  the  un- 
seen, always  silently,  but  determinedly,  at  work.  As 
an  agent  for  healing,  it  stands  without  a rival,  and  will, 
one  day,  supersede  the  systems  of  medicine  which,  at 


128 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


best,  are  but  partially  successful  in  effecting  a cure  foi 
the  many  ills  that  afflict  mankind. 

Every  person  is  susceptible  to  the  influence  of  some 
other  person;  yet,  no  one  is  able  to  affect  all.  Disease 
is  due,  either  to  a loss  of  magnetism,  or  the  presence  of 
some  foreign  magnetic  element,  which  reflects  itself 
upon  the  physical  organization  of  the  individual.  The 
successful  physician,  of  the  present  day,  realizes  that, 
in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  to  say  the  least,  his  presence 
has  quite  as  much  to  do  with  the  recovery  of  the  patient 
as  his  skill,  in  fact,  much  more.  The  most  learned  men 
in  medical  science  are  usually  the  poorest  practitioners, 
and  are  soon  relegated  to  a professorship  in  the  univer- 
sities; while  he  who  is  possessed  of  good  health,  a 
genial  and  kindly  disposition,  and  sympathetic  nature 
carries  the  atmosphere  of  harmony  into  every  home 
whose  threshold  he  crosses.  The  suffering  patient,  who 
looks  appealingly  into  his  face,  receives  a degree  of 
strength,  from  the  influence  that  his  desire  to  help  en- 
genders, that  far  surpasses  the  influence  of  any  narcotic 
or  tonic.  He  places  his  hand  upon  the  head,  speaks  a 
few  encouraging  words,  sits  quietly  for  a short  time,  and 
the  patient  is,  correspondingly,  strengthened. 

There  are  those  who  have  made  magnetism  an  object 
of  deep  study,  and  who,  without  understanding  exactly 
why,  are  able,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  with 
scarcely  any  effort  at  all,  to  impart  this  life-giving  power 
to  such  a degree,  that  they  benefit  and  help,  where  phy- 
sicians of  high  repute,  and  great  skill,  have  failed. 

This  fearful  death-rate  of  the  present  day,  the  utter 
inability  of  medical  science  to  cope  with  any  form  of 
epidemic,  successfully,  and  the  rapidly  increasing  de- 
mand for  hospital  service  on  all  sides,  indicate  that,  how- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


129 


ever  much  is  known  of  the  ills  of  the  flesh,  there  is  so 
much  more  yet  to  be  learned,  that  no  man  has  the  right 
to  say  yea  or  nay  to  another.  Thus,  legislative  enact- 
ments against  a practitioner,  in  any  opposite  line,  are 
the  methods  that  a few  learned  men  employ  to  strengthen 
their  strong  hold  upon  public  sentiment,  but  which,  in 
no  sense  of  the  word,  add  either  power  or  dignity  to 
their  position.  Never,  until  medicine  becomes  an  exact 
science,  and  there  is  a remedy  for  every  untoward  phys- 
ical condition,  will  the  medical  men  be  justified  in  dub- 
bing all  other  systems  quackery,  or  denouncing  as  fools 
and  idiots  those  who  practice  Magnetism,  Mesmerism, 
Hypnotism,  Christian  Science,  Mental  Science  and  the 
like.  All  of  these  have  a goodly  record  of  success  — so 
admitted  by  medical  science,  and  many  who,  through 
their  ministrations,  are  enjoying  a large  measure  of 
health,  and  consequent  happiness.  Much  more  might 
be  said  upon  this  and  kindred  subjects,  but  they  have 
been  dealt  with,  somewhat  extensively,  in  the  various 
treatises  which  have,  from  time  to  time,  been  presented 
to  the  public;  any  one  of  which  contains  more  truth  than 
this  generation,  at  least,  will  be  able  to  comprehend. 

As  a matter  of  careful  inquiry,  it  must  ever  appeal 
to  the  intelligent,  and  is  bound  to  lead  them  over  pre- 
scribed limits,  into  the  vast  laboratory  of  nature,  where 
the  concentration  of  invisible  forces  produces  the  phe- 
nomena that  work  the  development  of  the  human  race, 
and  the  outworking  of  the  law  of  evolution. 

It  does  not  matter  whether  we  use  the  terms  magnet- 
ism, hypnotism,  or  psychic  force,  for  so  nearly  syn- 
onymous are  all  of  these  that,  in  the  employment  of 
any  one,  the  domain  of  all  the  others  is  well-high  cov- 
ered. But  we  prefer  to  use  the  word  magnetism,  defin- 


130 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


ing  it  as  being  the  invisible  force  that  pervades  the  entire 
universe,  and  through  which  the  human  mind  acts;  in- 
sisting that  every  particle  of  force  has  a corresponding 
magnetic  counterpart,  and  that,  in  the  combination  of 
particles,  there  may  be  any  number  of  opposite  elements, 
which  are  attracted  and  held  to  a given  centre,  they  like- 
wise, having  a counterpart;  and,  whatever  the  visible 
action  maybe,  one  upon  the  other,  the  invisible  far  ex- 
ceeds and  overreaches  it. 

The  occult  uses  to  which  magnetism  can  be  put 
are  infinite.  It  can  be  applied,  intelligently,  to  every 
business  department  extant.  It  can  be  made  to  govern 
and  counteract  the  effect  of  disease,  and,  to  reveal  a 
thousand  marvelous  possibilities,  which  are  now  latent 
within  the  individual.  But,  this  can  only  be  done  by 
subjugating  the  lower  to  the  higher,  and,  by  bringing 
all  the  elements  of  which  the  body  is  composed,  into 
harmonious  relationship  with  each  other.  The  body, 
then,  has  an  entity,  a sphere,  a life,  absolutely  its  own, 
which  is  governed  by  laws  and  affected  by  conditions, 
upon  which  its  welfare  depends.  Repression  of  self 
serves  no  purpose;  but,  development,  and  higher  direc- 
tion, lifts  all  desires  into  nobler  realms,  and  gives  to 
them  a character  and  a purpose. 

Love,  in  its  largest  acceptation,  is  an  attraction 
towards  the  beautiful,  the  good,  the  true,  with  a de- 
sire of  possession. 

God,  the  perfect  Being,  is  all  love.  He  has  diffused 
love  through  all  nature;  and  He  has  imposed  upon 
man,  the  emanation  of  His  divinity,  the  law  of  love. 

In  man,  love  manifests  itself  in  many  ways.  It  has 
many  objects  for  its  food. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


181 


Supreme  love  is  the  love  of  God, — eternal  beauty^ 
sovereign  good,  truth  itself. 

Around  the  Divine  love  all  the  other  loves  radiate 
and  are  resplendent;  the  love  of  humanity,  which  has 
animated  the  Socrateses,  the  Platos,  the  Augustines,  the 
Vincents  de  Paul;  the  love  of  country  which  Brutus, 
Decius,  the  braves  of  Thermopylae,  the  heroes  of  all 
countries  and  all  times,  have  been  sacrificed;  the  love 
of  nature,  of  art,  of  science,  each  of  which  have  had  and 
always  will  have  their  passionate  lovers,  their  devoted 
victims;  conjugal  love,  which  attracts  man  towards  wo- 
man, and  woman  towards  man;  love  of  the  family;  in 
fine,  self-love,  which  too  often  overrules  and  corrupts 
the  purity  of  the  other  sentiments. 


CHAPTER  IX 


P\nimal  Magnetisrr],  its  Ph|ilosophy,  Laws  and  Pypplication, 


**  Although  men  are  accused  for  not  knowing  their  own  weakness, 
Yet  perhaps  as  few  know  their  own  strength.” 

— Swift. 


MYSTERIOUS  sympathy  exists  between  all  living 
^ I beings.  Attraction  and  repulsion  are  exerted  as  v/ell 
by  animals  as  man.  The  swarms  of  modusse  in  the  ocean 
congregate  by  the  same  law  as  shoals  of  fishes,  herds  of 
bisons  and  wild  horses  on  the  prairie,  or  man  in  the  com- 
plex relations  of  society. 

Love  is  a fervent  manifestation  of  the  same  principle. 
The  north  and  south,  the  male  and  female,  principles  attract. 
So,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest;  from  the  mineral  atom  to 
the  living  being;  from  the  cellular proiophyte  to  the  thinking 
man,  attraction  and  repulsion  rule  with  iron  sway. 

When  strange  herds  of  animals  are  mingled,  how  soon 
they  separate  if  left  to  themselves!  So  in  society,  how  kin- 
dred spirits  unite  in  bonds  of  friendship  and  the  bad  avoid 
coming  in  contact  with  the  good. 

We  know  of  no  instance  better  illustrating  the  sympathy 
existing  between  all  individuals  than  the  Siamese  twins. 

182 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


188 


They  furnish  an  overdrawn  example,  it  is  true,  but  trace  the 
law  of  sympathy  with  lines  the  more  sharply  defined.  So 
intimately  were  they  related,  that  the  thought  of  a surgical 
operation,  which  was  suggested  to  them,  was  met  with  as 
much  horror  as  the  idea  of  losing  half  of  the  body  by  the 
same  means  would  be  by  the  normal  individual.  The  op- 
eration, if  performed,  would,  from  the  closeness  of  the  sym- 
pathy existing  between  them,  undoubtedly  prove  fatal. 
Their  hunger,  thirst,  sleeping  and  waking,  were  coincident, 
and  their  tastes  and  inclinations  the  same.  They  read  the 
same  book  and  both  played  the  same  game,  but  never  with 
each  other,  for  they  said  that  that  would  be  like  the  right 
hand  playing  with  the  left.  When  one  was  sick  the  other 
had  precisely  the  same  symptoms.  So  simultaneous  was 
their  movements,  that  it  was  impossible  to  decide  from  which 
the  impulse  originated. 

They  were  in  a similar  relation  to  each  other  as  the  foetus 
and  mother,  between  which  a sympathy  is  established,  which 
blends  both  into  one  entity,  and  transmits  the  slightest 
shade  of  thought  from  the  mother  to  the  offspring,  often 
stamping  the  plastic  being  with  the  impression  of  her  sen- 
sations as  by  the  inexorable  decree  of  fate. 

The  same  sympathy  is  shown  by  persons  twin-born.  In- 
stances are  recorded  in  which,  although  at  a considerable 
distance  from  each  other,  the  same  malady  appeared  in  both 
at  the  same  time,  and  ran  precisely  the  same  course. 

A young  lady  was  suddenly  seized  with  an  unaccountable 
horror,  followed  by  convulsions,  which  the  attending  physi- 
cians, unable  to  account  for,  said  exactly  resembled  the 
strugglings  of  a person  drowning.  Soon  after,  news  came 
that  her  twin  brother  had  at  that  identical  moment  fallen 
overboard  and  been  drowned. 


134 


HOW  TO  WfN, 


A strong  sympathy  also  exists  between  parents  and  chil- 
dren, husband  and  wife,  and  intimate  friends,  so  that  when 
one  is  in  trouble  or  misfortune,  the  other  becomes  conscious 
of  it.  This  is  too  well  known  to  require  an  extended  state- 
ment of  facts.  How  often  do  the  husband  and  wife  think 
the  same  thought  at  the  same  time,  or  answer  the  same 
question  in  the  same  manner.  This  occurs  far  too  often  to 
be  referred  to  coincidence,  A deep  principle  underlies  it. 

Very  often  persons  who  are  unimpressible  when  awake  are 
impressible  in  sleep,  and  then  are  conscious  of  this  sympa- 
thy with  others.  In  illustration  of  this  proposition,  one  in- 
stance will  he  introduced  as  a sample  of  its  class. 

A gentleman  dreamed  that  on  entering  his  office  in  the 
morning,  he  saw  a person  formerly  in  his  service  as  clerk, 
seated  on  a certain  stool.  On  asking  him  the  motives  of  his 
visit,  he  is  told  the  circumstance  which  brought  the  stran- 
ger to  that  part  of  the  country,  and  that  he  could  not  for- 
bear visiting  his  old  master,  and  passing  a short  time  in  his 
former  occupation.  In  the  morning  on  entering  his  office, 
he  finds  his  dream  proves  true  to  the  letter.  Here  the  sym- 
pathy between  them  was  great,  and  the  ardent  thoughts  of 
the  clerk  impress  themselves  on  the  master. 

How  often  do  we  hear,  when  entering  a company  however 
unexpectedly,  ‘^Ah,  we  were  just  speaking  of  you!”  And 
the  same  is  embodied  in  the  old  proverb,  “The  devil  is  near 
when  you  are  talking  of  him,”  Our  emanation,  or  sphere 
reaches  our  destination  before  us. 

If  we  trace  the  relations  of  this  sympathy,  we  shall  find 
that: — 

1 Animals  can  influence  animals. 

2 Man  can  influence  animals. 

3 Animals  can  influence  man. 

4 Man  can  influence  man. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


135 


I The  influence  animals  exert  over  each  other — “Professor 
Silliman  mentions  that  in  June,  1823,  he  crossed  the  Hud- 
son at  Catskill,  in  company  with  a friend,  and  was  proceed- 
ing in  a carriage  by  the  road  along  the  river,  which  is  very 
narrow  there  with  the  water  on  one  side  and  a steep  bank 
on  the  other,  covered  by  bushes.  His  attention  at  that 
moment  was  arrested  by  the  number  cf  small  birds,  of  dif- 
ferent species,  flying  across  the  road  and  then  back  again, 
and  turning  and  wheeling  in  manifold  gyrations  and  with 
much  chirping,  yet  making  no  progress  from  the  place  over 
which  they  fluttered  His  own  and  his  friend’s  curiosity 
was  much  excited,  but  was  soon  satisfied  by  observing  a 
black  snake  of  considerable  size,  partly  coiled  and  partly 
erect  from  the  ground,  with  the  appearance  of  great  anima- 
tion, his  eyes  brilliant,  and  his  tongue  rapidly  and  incessantly 
brandishing.  This  reptile  they  perceived  to  be  the  cause 
and  centre  of  the  wild  motions  of  the  birds.  The  excite- 
ment ceased,  however,  as  soon  as  the  snake,  alarmed  by  the 
approach  of  the  carriage,  retreated.  The  birds  did  not, 
however,  escape,  but  rested  on  the  bushes,  probably  to  await 
the  reappearance  of  their  enemy.”  It  would  seem  that 
they  were  magnetized  and  did  not  immediately  recover,  or 
they  would  have  flown  away,  instead  of  remaining  near  the 
scene  of  their  fright. 

A story  is  told  by  a gentleman  in  Pennsylvania,  who,  re- 
turning from  a ride,  espied  a blackbird  describing  circles, 
gradually  growing  smaller,  around  a large  black  snake,  all 
the  time  uttering  cries  cf  distress.  As  the  bird  almost 
rer.ched  the  open  jaws  prepared  to  receive  it,  the  gentleman 
drove  the  snake  away,  when  the  bird  flew  off  uttering  a song 
of  joy. 

Another  anecdote  is  related  of  a ground  squirrel.  It 
was  observed  running  back  and  forth  along  the  trunk  of  a 


136 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


large  tree,  his  returns  being  each  time  shorter.  The  obser- 
ver at  length  saw  the  cause  of  the  squirrel’s  peculiar  move^ 
ments  was  the  fascinating  influence  of  a large  rattlesnake, 
the  head  of  which  was  thrust  out  through  a hole  in  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  which  was  hollow.  The  squirrel  at  length 
gave  over  running  and  laid  himself  down  near  the  snake, 
which  opened  its  jaws  and  took  in  the  head  of  the  passive 
squirrel.  A blow  across  the  neck  of  the  snake  caused  it  to 
draw  in  its  head,  and  the  squirrel  thus  released,  frisked  away 
with  the  utmost  precipitation.  Dr.  Good  observes  this  sin- 
gular power  of  the  rattlesnake,  and  it  is  probably  possessed 
by  all  the  larger  kinds  of  snakes.  The  fascinating  serpent 
appears  to  exert  an  irresistible  influence  over  its  victim, 
which  cannot  for  a moment  avert  its  eyes  from  the  object  of 
terror. 

Borrows  informs  us  that,  while  traveling  in  the  interior  of 
Africa,  he  saw  a large  serpent  in  the  very  act  of  fascinating 
a bird — a species  of  shrike.  The  bird,  when  first  observed, 
was  some  distance  from  the  snake,  but  it  gradually  ap- 
proached, apparently  irresistibly  drawn  towards  the  fiery 
eyes  and  open  jaws,  trembling  convulsively  and  uttering 
piteous  cries  of  distress.  He  shot  the  snake,  but  the  bird 
did  not  fly  away.  On  approaching,  he  found  the  bird  dead, 
although  it  had  not  approached  within  three  and  a half  feet 
of  the  snake.  This  fact  shows  how  intimate  the  relation  of 
fascinator  and  the  fascinated  is  even  in  animals.  The  nar- 
rator supposes  the  bird  died  of  fright — a most  inadequate 
explanation.  We  know  that  the  magnetized  enters  into  all 
the  phases  of  feeling  of  the  magnetizer,  and  whatever  affects 
the  latter  equally  affects  the  former.  The  sudden  death  of 
the  serpent  would  by  sympathy  shock  the  bird  in  an  equally 
great  degree  if  the  influence  was  perfect. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUijCESS 


137 


Another  anecdote  is  told  of  a mouse  being  placed  in  the 
cage  of  a female  viper.  It  was  at  first  greatly  agitated,  but 
in  a short  time  drew  gradually  near  the  viper,  which,  with 
fixed  eyes  and  exteaded  jaws,  remained  motionless.  It  con- 
tinued to  approach  and  at  last  ran  into  the  viper^s  mouth 
and  was  devoured. 

2 Mxt  can  influence  animals — Bruce,  the  African  trav- 
eler, speaks  in  the  most  positive  manner  of  the  power  the 
blacks  of  Sennaar  exert  over  the  most  poisonous  serpents, 
against  which  they  seem  armed  by  nature.  They  take  the 
horned  serpents  in  their  hands  aiall  times,  put  them  in  their 
bosoms,  or  throw  them  at  each  other  like  balls.  The  influ- 
ence exerted  upon  them  is  so  great  that  they  scarcely  ever 
attempt  resistance,  and  when  they  are  irritated  to  bite,  no 
inconvenience  arises  even  from  the  fangs  of  the  most  poi- 
sonous serpents.  ‘T  constantly  observed/’  said  he,  “that 
however  lively  the  viper  was  before,  upon  being  seized  by 
any  of  these  barbarians  it  seemed  as  if  taken  with  sickness 
and  feebleness,  frequently  shut  its  eyes,  and  never  turned 
its  mouth  towards  the  arm  of  the  person  that  held  it.” 
They  are  often  so  debilitated  by  this  fascination  as  to  perish 
as  certainly,  though  not  as  speedily,  as  though  struck  by 
lightning. 

A gen  leman  had  in  his  possession  a young  Syrian  bear, 
about  a year  old.  This  bear  was  generally  good-humored, 
playful  and  tractable.  One  morning  the  bear,  from  the  at- 
tention of  some  visitors,  became  savage  and  irritable;  and 
the  owner,  in  despair,  tied  him  up  in  his  usual  abode  and 
went  away  to  attend  to  his  guests.  In  a few  minutes 
he  was  hastily  recalled  to  see  his  bear.  He  found  him  roll- 
ing about  on  his  haunches,  faintly  moving  his  paws,  and 
gradually  sinking  into  a state  of  quiesence  and  repose. 
Above  him  stood  a gentleman  well  known  in  the  mesmeric 


138 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


world,  making  the  usual  passes  with  his  hands  The  pool 
bear,  though  evidently  unwilling  to  yield  to  tliis  new  influ- 
ence, gradually  sunk  to  the  ground,  closed  bis  eyes,  became 
motionless  and  insensible  to  all  means  used  to  arouse  him. 
He  remained  in  this  state  tor  some  minutes,  when  he  awoke, 
shook  himself  and  tottered  about  the  court,  as  though  labor- 
ing under  the  effects  of  a strong  narcotic.  He  exhibited 
evident  signs  of  drowsiness  for  some  hours  afterwards. 
This  interesting  scene  took  place  in  the  presence  of  many 
distinguished  persons. 

This  power  is  used  by  mai>  to  disarm  the  fury  of  the  most 
savage  animals.  Robbers  have  learned  to  exercise  this  art 
on  watch-dogs,  the  most  furious  of  which  they  reduce  to 
silence.  The  Laplanders  exercise  the  same  power  over 
their  dogs.  / 

Alexander  taming  his  Bucephalus  is  paralled  in  modern 
times.  Sullh^n,  Rarey  and  Gleason,  in  an  hour’s  time, 
could  so  magnetize  the  most  furious  horse,  as  to  make  him 
follow  »nd  obey  like  the  best  trained  dog.  Rarey  and  Glea- 
son tamed  in  the  same  manner,  not  only  horses,  but  that 
untamed  steed  of  the  desert — the  wildest,  fiercest  and  most 
unmanageable  of  the  equine  race — the  zebra.  The  lion  and 
tiger  are  fawning  as  kittens  beneath  the  gentle  yet  inexor- 
able sway  of  this  influence.  From  the  human  eye  a power 
goes  forth,  which,  when  rightly  employed,  controls  the  most 
savage  beasts. 

3 Animals  can  influence  Man — There  are  well  attested 
instances  of  animals  exerting  a magnetic  influence  on  man. 
A gentleman  while  walking  in  his  garden,  was  attracted  by 
a snake  he  accidentally  saw  in  the  bushes.  He  watched  it 
closely,  and  soon  found  himself  unable  to  draw  away  his 
eyes.  The  snake  appeared  to  increase  immensely  in  size. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


130 


and  assume  in  rapid  succession  a mixture  of  the  most  bril- 
liant colors.  He  grew  dizzy  and  would  have  fallen  in  the 
direction  of  the  snake,  had  not  his  wife  at  that  instant  come 
to  the  rescue. 

Two  men  in  Maryland  were  walking  together,  when  one 
found  that  his  companion  had  stopped  by  the  roadside.  On 
turning,  he  perceived  that  his  eyes  were  fixed  on  a rattle- 
snake, which  had  its  head  elevated  and  eyes  glaring  at  him. 
He  was  leaning  towards  the  snake  and  crying,  “He  will  bite 
me!  he  will  bite  me!’^  “Sure  enough,  he  will,”  said  his 
friend,  “if  you  do  not  run;  what  are  you  staying  here  for.^” 
Finding  he  could  not  draw  him  away,  he  struck  down  the 
snake  with  the  limb  of  a tree.  The  man  thus  saved  was 
very  sick  for  some  hours  afterwards. 

4 Man  can  influence  Man — The  influence  man  exerts 
over  man  was  well  known  to  the  ancients.  The  physician’s 
prescription  to  King  David  in  his  declining  years  was  based 
on  this  principle.  And  the  rights  of  savage  nations,  the 
gestures  of  the  magicians  and  medicine  men  over  their  pa- 
tients, are  founded  on  personal  magnetism  and  are  remark- 
ably successful. 

The  facts  of  mesmerism  are  almost  universally  admitted 
by  thinking  men,  and  to  introduce  a lot  of  established  inci- 
dents would  be  superfluous.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the 
best  works  on  that  subject  for  evidence. 

The  bond  which  unites  the  hypnotist  with  his  subject  is 
illustrated  with  every  successive  process.  The  operator 
exerts  despotic  sway  over  his  subject.  He  compels  him  to 
think  and  act  as  he  pleases.  If  he  tells  him  water  is  wine, 
he  is  implicitly  believed,  and  intoxication  follows.  He  tells 
him  a stick  is  a snake — he  flees  from  it,  or  that  he  is  a king, 
or  emperor,  or  czar,  and  the  character  is  assumed;  or  he 
plunges  him  to  the  opposite  extreme  and  he  crawls  along,  a 


140 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


degraded  outcast.  In  these  fantasies,  if  we  may  so  call 
what  depends  on  the  will  of  another,  there  is  something 
simUar  to  the  operation  of  narcotics,  especially  hashish,  or 
Indian  hemp,  which  the  Hindoos  used  to  produce  the  ecstacy 
in  which  they  communicated  with  the  gods,  and  learned  the 
course  of  future  events.  In  short  there  is  very  little  dis- 
tinction to  be  made  between  the  effects  of  the  narcotic  and 
of  hypnotism. 

Whatever  affects  the  hypnotist  often  affects  equally  the  sub- 
ject. The  slightest  pain,  the  least  desire  is  participated  in. 
Whatever  the  former  tastes,  hears,  or  sees,  the  latter  tastes, 
hears  or  sees;  and  there  is  a partial  reflex  action  . by  which 
the  operator  is  guided  to  the  locality  of  and  sympathizes 
in  the  diseases  of,  his  subject. 

The  following  often  quoted  instance  is  taken  from  the 
Transactions  of  the  French  Academy: 

“On  the  loth  of  September,  at  ten  o’clock  at  night,  the 
commission  met  at  the  house  of  M,  Itard,  in  order  to  con- 
tinue its  inquiries  upon  Carat  (their  mesmeric  subject);  the 
latter  was  in  the  library,  where  conversation  had  been  car- 
ried on  with  him  till  half  past  seven,  at  which  time  M. 
Foissac,  (the  magnetizer),  who  had  arrived  since  Carat,  and 
had  waited  in  an  ante-chamber  separated  from  the  library 
by  two  closed  doors  and  an  interval  of  twelve  feet,  began 
to  magnetize  him.  Three  minutes  afterwards.  Carat  said, 
‘T  think  Foissac  is  there,  for  I feel  myself  oppressed  and 
enfeebled.”  At  the  expiration  of  eight  minutes  he  was 
asleep. 

A similar  instance  is  here  quoted  from  the  Chicago 
Graphic  oi  June  30th,  1894,  in  refence  to  our  own  exper- 
iments, We  quote  but  briefly  from  a full  page  illustrated 
article. 

“The  final  test  was,  however,  the  most  interesting,  and 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


141 


one  which  proves  beyond  a doubt  that  there  is  a power  in 
hypnotism  with  which  man  should  be  more  thoroughly  con- 
versant. The  test  was  brought  about  in  the  course  of  an 
interview  which  occurred  after  the  “subjects”  were  brought 
back  to  the  normal  stat  e.  It  has  always  been  a question  in 
the  minds  of  many  as  to  whether  the  hypnotist  has  power 
over  an  individual  when  he  or  she  is  not  aware  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  hypnotist,  without  being  seen  or  led  to  think  of 
him.  The  question  was  put  to  the  doctor,  who  thought  such 
a test  would  be  of  interest  to  him,  and  was  satisfied  it  could 
be  made  successfully.  Hiving  been  directed  to  the  proper 
place  to  go — about  four  blocks  distant — The  Graphic  repre- 
sentative found  the  “subject,”  and  both  seated  themselves 
in  the  latter’s  office,  engaging  in  conversation.  A few  mo- 
ments later  Dr.  Anderson  arrived  and  approached  slowly, 
stealthily,  behind  the  subject,  without  the  slightest  noise, 
and  with  hands  outstretched.  The  moment  the  doctor  came 
near,  the  “subject”  lost  speech,  his  eyes  protruded  and 
stared  ahead,  vacant  and  glassy.  Finally  his  eyes  closed, 
and  he  fell  back  asleep  and  apparently  lifeless.” 

It  is  often  remarked  that  one  is  oppressed  by  a certain 
member  of  the  family,  with  whom  he  resides,  whenever  he  is 
near,  although  no  enmity  exists  between  them,  but  their 
organizations  are  entirely  different. 

One  evening,  while  engaged  in  conversation.  Dr,  B 

suddenly  paused,  and  said  he  could  proceed  no  further,  for 
someone  was  listening.  This  was  highly  improbable;  but  the 
next  morning  tracks  were  discovered  at  the  gate,  in  the  light 
fall  of  snow,  as  though  some  person  had  stopped  for  a consid- 
erable time. 

Whatever  influence  that  person  exerted  it  must  have  passed 
through  the  park,  yard,  and  wall  of  the  house,  to  reach  the 
impressible  brain.  Shall  we  call  it  thought.^  What  is  thought,^ 


142 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


How  does  it  reproduce  itself  in  the  mind  of  another?  These 
are  questions  which  force  the  close  reasoner  to  the  adaptation 
of  an  ethereal  medium  of  transference. 

These  curious  phenomena  have  long  been  observed  and 
speculated  upon.  To  extend  the  list  is  unnecessary,  for 
almost  everyone  can  recall  equally  conclusive  tacts. 

One  thing  is  determined — they  do  not  arise  from  imagina- 
tion, for  we  see  phenomena  in  animals  that  cannot  be  referred 
to  imagination.  It  is  possessed  by  animals  as  well  as  man. 
Animals  can  influence  man;  man,  animals;  animals,  each  other 
and  man  controls  man. 

To  produce  a result  so  uniform,  we  must  assume  the  cause 
to  be  common  to  all.  Hence  we  refer  this  entire  class  to 
magnetism,  or  what,  perhaps,  will  be  better  understood,  nerve- 
aura,  in  which  all  living  beings  can  excite  undulations. 

In  the  world  of  mind,  theories  have  ever  gone  before,  as 
pathfinders,  so  to  express  it,  long  before  sufficient  facts  are 
gathered  for  their  support.  So  has  it  been  in  the  present 
instance,  in  an  eminent  degree.  The  existence  of  a nerve- 
aura  has  been  maintained  and  denied  by  eminent  psycholo- 
gists, but  the  affirmative  have  considered  it  as  an  emanation, 
a theory  w’hich  soon  leads  to  its  own  destruction. 

The  nervous  system  is  capable  of  exciting  or  conducting 
these  vibrations.  It  has  been  said  that  the  nerves  are  non- 
conductors of  electricity,  and  it  has  been  supposed  that  this 
fact  alone  destroyed  all  theories  hitherto  entertained  of  the 
subtile  influence  persons  exert  on  each  other.  But  we  can- 
not perceive  how  this  fact  is  related  to  the  subject.  We  well 
know  that  dynamic  electricity  must  have  a closed  circuit,  and 
that  water,  the  principal  ingredient  in  the  composition  of 
nerve,  is  a bad  conductor  of  this  species  of  electricity,  or 
that  generated  by  the  electrical  machine.  So  that  it  is  false 
that  nerves  will  not  conduct  electricity.  Further,  it  is  mag- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


148 


netism,  and  not  electricity, of  which  we  treat,  and  our  experi- 
ments must  be  with  it,  and  not  with  any  other.  We  must 
consider  all  the  facts  we  have  been,  and  are  considering  as 
isolated  phenomena,  or  unitized  by  magnetism. 

From  remotest  antiquity  the  adage  has  descended,  that 
young  people  were  in  danger  of  becoming  unhealthy  by  living 
with  the  aged.  The  Hebrews  acted  accordingly  in  procuring 
a young  damsel  for  their  old  king,  that  he  might  be  invig- 
orated by  her  strength.  An  anecdote  is  told  of  an  aged 
female  who  compelled  her  servants  to  retire  to  the  same  bed 
with  herself,  that  she  might  prolong  her  life  thereby,  and 
carried  her  horrid  vampyrism  to < such  an  extent  that,  her 
maids  all  becoming  sickly,  after  a time,  she  could  induce 
none  of  them  to  work  for  her,  and  soon  expired.  This  ex- 
plains why  magnetism  so  exhausts  the  magnetizer.  Certainly 
it  is  not  his  exertions,  for  a few  passes  cannot  fatigue.  Few 
persons,  however  strong  and  robust,  can  magnetize  to  any 
great  extent  without  feeling  exhausted,  and  persons  of  feeble 
constitutions  are  extremely  fatigued.  The  explanation  is  self 
evident.  The  magnetizer  imparts  to  the  magnetized  his  own 
state  of  vibration,  and  to  do  so  exerts  his  will  so  strongly  as 
to  exhaust  its  energy,  and,  as  will  is  the  parent  of  muscular 
force,  of  course,  he  will  become  debilitated  in  proportion  to 
the  length  and  degree  of  his  exertions. 

This  is  still  further  proved  by  the  effects  of  magnetism  on 
the  magnetised.  When  laboring  under  disease,  magnetism 
invigorates  the  constitution,  and  in  many  cases  works  a 
radical  cure. 

Though  we  are  surrounded  by  such  an  atmosphere,  we 
have  no  instruments  by  which  to  ascertain  its  presence,  as 
we  do  that  of  electricity  by  the  electrometer.  The  only 
reliable  test  is  the  impressibility  of  the  brain.  The  brain 
feels  its  presence,  and  is  to  it  what  the  most  delicate  elec- 


144 


HOW  TO  WIN. 


trometer  is  to  electricity,  or  to  the  finest  iodised  plate  is  to 
light. 

There  is  an  influence  exerted  by  individuals  unconsciously 
on  each  other  which  cannot  be  felt  by  the  nerves  in  their 
ordinary  state,  but  which  is  plainly  seen  by  aid  of  clairvoy- 
ance. To  the  spiritual  eye,  every  individual  appears  like  a 
luminous  centre  throwing  off  magnetic  waves  in  every  direc- 
tion, as  a lamp  throws  off  waves  of  light. 

By  the  impressibility  of  the  brain  a new  branch  of  mental 
science  has  been  developed,  of  great  interest  and  importance; 
and,  as  it  illustrates  the  subject  under  consideration  we  shall 
devote  a chapter  to  its  philosophy. 

The  word  psychometry^  by  which  the  discoverer  designated 
certain  mysterious  relations  of  mind,  is  derived  from  the 
Greek  and  means,  when  translated,  soul -measure.  It  is 
rightly  named,  for  it  measures  the  thoughts,  and  leads 
directly  into  the  most  secret  recesses  of  mind. 

This  science  depends  on  the  impressibility  of  the  brain — a 
faculty  already  proved  to  exist  by  numerous  facts. 

In  making  experiments  in  this  department,  or  in  any  other 
relating  to  mind  or  spirit,  the  greatest  care  should  be  used, 
and  the  few  necessary  condit’ons  already  known  complied 
with  in  as  perfect  a manner  as  possible.  The  student  of  the 
physical  sciences  deals  with  elements  he  can  see,  feel,  and 
measure.  He  understands  their  properties — can  combine 
them,  and  observe  the  result.  If  he  places  iron  and  sulphur 
in  a retort,  and  applies  heat,  he  knows  that  sulphuret  of  iron 
will  be  produced;  and  that  he  will  obtain  water  if  he  burns 
oxygen  and  hydrogen  gas  together.  In  all  these  operations 
he  can  pronounce  with  certainty  what  the  effects  will  be,  for 
he  can  fulfil  all  the  necessary  conditions.  Not  so,  however, 
with  the  student  of  psychological  science.  He  enters  a new 
and  unexplored  realm,  and  deals  with  elements  so  ethereal 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


146 


and  subtile  that  they  lose  all  the  properties  usually  attrib- 
uted to  matter,  and  become  more  properly  agents  than  ele- 
ments, He  cannot  see  nor  measure  them;  nor  can  he  fulfil 
the  required  conditions,  for  he  does  not  know  what  they  are. 
His  steps  are  empirical,  and  the  results  obtained  subject  to 
great  detractions.  Suppose  the  student  of  chemistry  could 
neither  see,  feel,  nor  measure  the  elements  with  which  he 
experiments,  and  knew  little  of  the  laws  by  which  they  in- 
fluence each  other;  how  uncertain  must  be  his  tests!  Yet 
such  is  the  position  of  the  student  of  mental  science  in  re- 
gard to  the  elements  with  which  he  experiments.  As  he 
knows  but  little  of  his  subject,  he  must  rigidly  comply  with 
known  conditions.  This  applies  equally  well  to  all  physical 
research.  Too  great  care  cannot  be  used  in  observance  of 
known  conditions. 

Psychometry  depends  on  nerve -aura  ox  magnetism — in  fact 
on  the  same  law  as  that  by  which  one  person  influences 
another.  The  animal  pursuing  its  prey  by  its  track,  and  the 
impressible  individual  revealing  chiracter  by  a garment  or 
autograph,  exercise  a kindred  faculty.  An  influence  in  all 
such  cases  has  been  left,  which  is  felt  by  the  brain.  The 
peculiar  state  of  vibration  of  one  brain  is  induced  in  another. 
It  may  seem  incredible  that  any  influence  whatever  can  be 
left  on  paper  by  simply  writing  a name  on  it,  and  still  more 
incredible  that  character  can  be  delienaied  from  it.  How 
this  results  we  will  now  explain. 

The  brain  is  divided  into  groups  of  faculties.  The  'dbra- 
tions  from  these  are  as  unlike  each  other  as  those  of  red  and 
yellow  light.  Thus  combativeness  throws  out  certain  vi- 
brations and  pulsations;  destructiveness,  acquisitiveness  and 
the  intellectual  and  moral  groups,  respectively  their  own. 
The  combined  aggregate  of  all  these  is  the  aura,  or  mag- 
netic sphere,  of  the  individual.  Harmony,  correspondence, 


146 


HOW  TO  WIN. 


everywhere  prevails.  If  combativeness  is  large,  it  will 
stamp  its  influence  on  the  auric  sphere;  if  morality  or  intel- 
lect is  large,  each  will  originate  a larger  proportional  share 
of  the  magnetic  vibrations.  Let  us  observe  nature.  The 
lion  and  tiger  possess  combativeness  and  destructiveness  in 
an  eminent  degree.  The  contour  of  their  bodies  speaks  this 
plainer  than  words.  See  the  flowing  mane,  strong  limbs,  the 
prominent  muscles!  Hear  their  terrible  roar  and  harsh  growl, 
which  send  the  affrighted  quadrupeds  flying  over  the  plain! 
Do  they  not  indicate  a cruel,  bloodthirsty  disposition?  If 
we  turn  to  human  nature,  we  shall  soon  meet  cousins  to 
these — men  who  are  lions  and  tigers  in  every  word  and  deed; 
with  hoarse,  harsh  voices,  and  stern,  unfeeling  actions. 

The  squirrel’s  prominent  front  teeth  and  sly  morons, 
working  all  day  to  lay  up  his  winter  store,  speak  his  large 
acquisitiveness.  We  often  see  men  with  just  sucb  teeth  and 
countenances,  contracted  like  the  squirrel’s  who  do  not  only 
work  all  day,  but  all  night  likewise,  to  lay  up  a useless 
hoard 

Before  they  form  the  magnetic  sphere  around  the  individ- 
ual, the  vibrations  of  the  organs  of  the  brain  pass  through 
the  body  and  inipress  it  with  their  influence.  It  acquisitive- 
ness is  the  largest  or  controllin  g organ,  it  throws  off  more 
than  a due  proportion  of  magnetism,  and  detracts  from  all 
the  others;  and  pervading  the  body,  we  find  that  it  yields  to 
its  influence,  and  an  acquisitive  expression  steals  over  the 
face,  the  hands  are  clinched,  the  step  is  cautious  and  infirm. 

If  one  organ  becomes  excessively  active,  the  tendency  is  to 
weaken  all  the  others,  which  gives  i t still  greater  propor- 
tional strength,  as  it  feeds  on  their  food.  Hence  it  is  that 
they  who  commit  excessive  crime  s,  or  are  habitual  drunk- 
ards or  gormands,  seldom  reform,  for  the  faculties  commit- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


147 


ing  such  acts  have  passed  from  the  control  of  the  mortal, 
and  are  the  controlling  forces  of  character. 

The  size  and  activity  of  the  various  organs  of  the  brain, 
and  their  individual  proportions  of  magnetism  in  the  sphere 
of  the  brain,  are  intimately  related,  and  one  can  be  deter- 
mined by  the  other. 

Elevated  and  beautiful  thoughts  beautify  the  face  and 
sparkle  in  the  eye.  The  body  is  plastic  to  the  touch  of 
thought,  for  when  an  individual  writes  his  sphere  imparts 
its  state  of  vibration  to  the  paper;  and  from  what  has  been 
said  before,  it  will  be  undertood  that  that  state  represents 
all  the  faculties  in  their  true  relation,  and  hence,  if  analyzed, 
would  give  the  size  of  the  organs  from  which  it  originated, 
or  the  character  of  the  writer. 

Fortunately,  the  brain  is  the  best  of  analysists,  and  by  its 
impressibility  the  very  thoughts  of  the  writer,  at  the  time  of 
writing  can  be  determined.  That  an  autograph  or  scrap  of 
writing,  contains  the  active  elements  of  the  writer’s  charac- 
ter, and  in  their  relative  proportions,  seemingly  belongs 
more  to  the  dreamland  of  fancy  than  to  philosophical  re- 
search; yet  rigid  demonstration  proves  this  to  be  true. 

If  a lock  of  hair  or  fragment  of  wearing  apparel  be  em- 
ployed instead  of  an  autograph,  like  results  are  obtained. 

As  his  magnetic  sphere  reproduces  the  thoughts  of  the 
magnetizer  in  the  magnetized,  so  as  in  the  autograph  it  re- 
produces the  precise  action  of  the  brain  by  which  it  was 
produced,  and  consequently  the  same  thoughts,  more  or  less 
distinct,  according  to  the  impressibility  of  the  psychometrist. 

Not  that  the  individual,  while  performing  these  experi- 
ments, is  magnetized — no  trace  of  this  can  be  discovered, 
but  it  succeeds  best  with  those  who  are  most  sensitive,  and 
the  mind  is  influenced  in  precisely  the  same  manner,  though 
not  in  the  same  degree.  The  two  are  identical  in  nature, 
varying  only  in  quantity. 


)48 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


This  is  beautifully  proved  by  an  impressible  person  plac- 
ing his  hand  on  the  head  of  one  whose  character  he  wishes 
to  delineate,  or  taking  hold  of  the  hand;  and  the  impressions 
thus  received  will  arise  much  sooner  than  from  an  autograph 
and  be  much  more  sharply  defined. 

This  is  a very  correct  method  of  obtaining  the  character 
and  far  excels  phrenology;  for,  while  the  latter  gives  what 
the  result  of  a given  combination  of  organs  should  be,  psy- 
chometry  tells  what  they  are.  It  enters  the  depths  of  the 
mind,  lays  bare  all  its  thoughts  and  emotions,  and  with  a 
deep,  penetrating  gaze,  understands  the  man.  Hence  it  can 
give  better  counsel  which  faculties  to  control,  which  culti- 
vate, and  how  to  form  a true  and  noble  character. 

Almost  everyone  is  susceptible  to  this  influence.  Not 
more  than  one  in  ten  in  the  middle  classes  but  might  feel  it 
tn  a greater  or  lesser  degree.  We  say  middle  classes,  be- 
cause in  the  poor  and  lowly,  who  suffer  from  want  and  star- 
vation, and  the  miseries  of  poverty,  this  faculty  is  rarely 
developed,  and  in  the  wealthy,  circumstances  are  almost 
equally  unfavorable.  One  in  twenty- five  is  capable  of  ex- 
celling in  impressibility.  The  organization  determines  this 
point  The  good  psychometrist  may  be  known  by  a full,  well 
balanced  brain  and  nervous  temperament. 

When  an  autograph  or  letter  is  taken  in  the  hand,  the 
sensation  is  first  felt  in  the  hand,  gradually  extending  up 
the  arm  until  it  affects  the  mind.  The  same  sensation  is 
produced  when  it  is  placed  on  the  forehead,  but  is  experi- 
enced more  rapidly.  The  psychometrist  should  endeavor  to 
remain  passive  and  free  from  all  excitement  as  possible. 

A word  may  be  profitably  said  on  the  choice  of  autographs 
for  tests.  None  are  as  good  when  long  mixed  with  other 
writings,  as  the  influences  from  the  other  papers,  thus 
brought  in  contact,  blend.  This  occurs  in  the  most  remark- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


149 


able  manner  when  very  negative  and  positive  letters  are 
folded  together.  The  character  delineated  from  either  will 
not  be  true,  but  each  will  be  blended  with  the  other. 

The  character  of  the  person  will  be  delineated  as  at  the 
time  of  writing,  and  not  its  general  features.  If  the  letter 
is  written  under  the  influence  of  combativeness,  acquisi- 
tiveness, or  morality,  of  course,  these  particular  organs  will 
be  delineated  Urger  than  they  really  are. 

The  organization  of  the  psychometrist  affects  the  deline- 
ation. If  he  possess  large  and  active  ideality,  and  the  writer 
of  the  autograph  has  it  small,  he  will  be  very  apt  to  deline- 
ate it  larger  than  it  should  be.  This  error  is  of  little  account 
in  the  more  impressible  minds,  but  is  very  serious  in  those  of 
a lower  order  of  impressibility. 

The  reading  of  character  is  not  the  only  application  of 
this  discovery.  It  is  a good  barque  for  the  historian  and 
antiquarian,  carrying  them  up  the  stream  of  time — far  be- 
yond the  confines  of  written  records.  How  grand  would  be 
the  true  character  of  Alexander,  Caesar,  or  Napoleon,  ob- 
tained in  this  manner,  free  from  the  prejudices  of  their  biog- 
raphers and  their  times!  We  are  guided  by  fragments  in 
our  course.  The  linen  which  shrouds  the  mummies  of  Egypt 
reveals  the  character  of  that  class  who  were  considered 
worthy  of  embalming,  and  a fragment  of  Herculaneum  gives 
Roman  character  two  thousand  years  ago.  The  characters 
of  the  men  who  scattered  mounds  and  fortifications  over  the 
American  continent  may  be  determined  by  their  relics. 

Nor  does  this  all-penetrating  science  rest  here.  It  takes 
the  paleontologist  by  the  hand,  and  leads  him  down  through 
the  carboniferous  shales  and  sandstones,  and  by  aid  of  a 
fragment  of  organic  remains  gives  him  a perfect  view  of  the 
world  at  that  age  of  development. 


150 


HOW  TO  WIN; 


Geologists  have  long  sought  to  determine  the  real  aspect 
of  ancient  nature;  but,  having  no  grounds  on  which  to  rest 
their  speculations,  of  couise,  they  were  only  reckless  efforts 
of  the  imagination.  It  is  said,  the  world  was  made  for  the 
use  of  man,  and  beautified  to  give  him  enjoyment.  All  the 
beauty  and  grandeur  of  previous  times,  however,  is  shut  out 
from  his  gaze;  but  this  science  opens  to  view  the  vista  of  the 
ages. 

By  the  aid  of  psychometry  the  character,  appearance  and 
habits  of  races  which  have  long  since  vanished  from  the 
earth  have  been  accurately  described.  The  aura  surround- 
ing a fragment  from  a tomb  thousands  of  years  old  is  suffi- 
cient to  impress  upon  the  brain  of  a sensitive  the  history  of 
those  ancient  times.  Truly  we  are  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  marvels  of  magnetism  and  the  powers  of  the  human 
soul  are  far  more  wonderful  than  the  wildest  dreams  of  the 
imagination  and  all  the  fictions  of  Fairyland. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Incomprehensibility  of  Mind.  One  law  holds  good  in  the 
entire  Domains  of  Magr)etism. 


^UDSON  TUTTLE  says:  From  the  normal  state  to 

the  gateway  of  another  sphere,  where  the  silver  cord, 
which  unites  the  mortal  with  the  immortal,  is  broken, 
a wide  interval  exists.  In  the  normal  the  material  has  the 
ascendency,  and  the  spiritual  is  subordinate.  At  death  the 
spirit  obtains  complete  ascendency,  and  the  body  fades. 
Between  the  extremes  the  two  are  variously  blended,  as  light 
and  darkness  at  morning;  night  representing  the  body,  light 
the  spiritual  life,  which  slowly  breaks  on  the  horizon,  grad- 
ually increasing,  until  the  sun  at  last  pours  a flood  of  splen- 
dor above  the  grey  clouds  of  morning.  Then  the  spirit  is 
free,  and  beholds  the  supernal  light  of  the  spheres. 

By  Hypnotism  and  Mesmeric  Clairvoyance  the  phenomena 
of  death  are  obtained,  and  its  laws  can  be  studied.  It  is 
then  the  right  means  to  employ,  for  by  it  the  spirit  is  reached 
and  analyzed. 

Spirit,  and  its  essence,  the  mind,  evade  the  scalpel  of  the 
dissector;  it  cannot  be  examined  in  the  crucible  or  retort;  it 
is  unseen  by  the  eye,  unheard  by  the  ear,  and  is  only  recog- 

161 


i52 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


nized  by  its  effects.  Yet  it  must  be  material  in  some  sub- 
limated form,  or  the  effect  of  materiality,  for  without  an 
adequate  cause  there  can  be  no  effect. 

The  phenomena  of  physical  agents  cannot  unlock  its  mys- 
terious domain;  and  if  anything  is  learned  of  its  nature,  it 
must  be  by  studying  the  subject,  not  by  the  rushlight  of 
metaphysics,  but  by  the  clear  light  of  positive  facts. 

However  dependent  it  may  appear  to  be  on  the  body, 
there  is  an  extensive  range  of  facts  which  prove  that  under 
certain  conditions  it  may  become  independent.  When 
studied  on  the  plane  of  physical  science,  it  seems  to  have  an 
exclusive  dependence  on  the  body,  living  where  it  lives,  and 
dying  where  it  dies.  But  there  is  a higher  position  from 
which  to  study  mentality.  It  is  unique,  and  must  be  studied 
by  the  light  of  itself.  The  recent  discoveries  in  mental  im- 
pressibility, clairvoyance,  etc.,  open  a wide  avenue  for  the 
student  to  enter  the  halls  of  mind.  The  opportunity  has 
been  eagerly  seized.  Forsaking  the  beaten  path  of  the 
metaphysician,  the  enquirers  have  pushed  bodily  into  the 
realm  of  facts  and  causes,  and  sought  to  construct  theories 
in  harmony  with  nature. 

The  observed  facts  of  magnetism  show  that  mind  can  in 
different  degrees  become  independent  of  the  physical  body, 
and  in  proportion  as  it  becomes  independent  does  its  spiritual 
perceptions  become  acute.  This  independence  regards  the 
senses  and  the  entire  organism,  and  the  mind  rises  above  the 
aid  it  furnishes,  seeing,  hearing,  and  feeling,  independent  of 
its  organism.  For  classification  of  facts,  the  mind  may  be 
considered  in  six  different  states  or  degrees. 

1.  The  natural  state  of  activity  and  rest, 

2.  The  impressible  state. 

3.  Magnetic. 

4.  Clairvoyant. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


5 . Super-Clairvoyant. 

6,  Death,  or  the  independent  spirit  condition. 

1.  The  Natural  State  of  Activity  and  Rest. — In  this  state 
the  mind  is  chained  to  the  body,  and  its  manifestations  are 
limited  by  the  capacity  of  the  latter.  It  sees  with  the  eyes, 
hears  with  the  ears,  and  feels  through  the  agency  of  the  sen- 
satory  nerves.  To  all  appearances  it  is  indissolubly  con- 
nected with  it,  and  from  facts  elicited,  from  this  state,  the 
sceptic  triumphantly  exclaims,  that  it  is  as  rational  to  look 
for  the  hum  of  the  bee,  after  the  insect  has  passed  on  its 
busy  wings,  as  for  mind  after  the  death  of  the  body. 

In  this  state  there  is  a perfect  union  of  the  two,  and  their 
action  is  so  blended  that  it  is  with  extreme  difficulty  that  the 
manifestations  of  one  can  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the 
other.  The  mind  never  grasps  anything  by  intuition  while  in 
this  state,  but  is  content  to  plod  in  the  groveling  externalisms 
of  life,  reiving  wholly  on  the  five  senses  for  its  knowledge. 

2.  The  Impressible  State  or  Degree, — By  this  state  we 
mean  that  condition  in  which  the  individual  is  susceptible 
to  the  influence  of  surrounding  objects  and  minds.  It  is  the 
normal  condition  of  nearly  one-fourth  of  the  Anglo-Saxon 
race.  It  varies  in  degree  from  the  impressibility  which 
shapes  our  attractions  and  repulsions,  to  that  which  enters 
the  secret  chambers  of  another’s  thoughts,  and  makes  itself 
familiar  with  the  innermost  shadings  of  character.  In  the 
superior  conditions  of  this  state,  psychometric  delineations 
are  made  perfect  according  to  the  degree  of  impressibility, 
and  the  peculiar  influence  of  individuals  become  perceptible. 

3.  The  Magnetic  State  is  a higher  degree  of  the  last.  It 
is  not  necessarily  induced  by  an  operator,  instances  occuring 
repeatedly  where  it  has  been  entered  spontaneously. 

The  mind  is  one  step  farther  removed  from  the  body,  and 
now  first  manifests  its  independence  by  seeing,  hearing, 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


1 54 

feeling  without  the  aid  of  the  bodily  organs,  and  reading  the 
thoughts  of  those  with  whom  it  comes  in  contact. 

It  may  be  produced  by  disease. 

Mrs  Sanby  relates  an  instance  of  a young  friend  who  had 
the  regular  functions  of  the  nervous  system  overthrown  by 
the  sudden  news  of  the  death  of  her  lather.  During  the  at- 
tacks peculiar  to  the  disease  thus  induced,  which  is  known 
to  physicians  as  the  Protean  disorder,  she  possessed  all  the 
powers  of  the  true  somnambulist.  The  extraordinary  powers 
communicated  to  the  other  senses  by  the  temporary  suspen- 
sion of  one  or  two  of  them,  are  beyond  credibility  to  those 
who  do  not  witness  it;  all  colors  she  can  distinguish  with  the 
greatest  correctness  by  night  or  by  day;  ^ ^ and  I may 

safely  say  as  well  on  any  part  of  her  body  as  with  her  hands. 
She  can  not  only  read  with  the  greatest  rapidity  any  writing 
that  is  legible  to  us,  music,  etc.,  with  the  mere  passing  of  her 
fingers  over  it,  whether  in  a dark  or  light  room,  (for  her  sight 
is  for  the  most  part  suspended  under  the  paroxysm,)  but  she 
can  read  any  book  or  writing  by  simply  placing  her  hand  on 
the  page.  Such  facts  not  only  prove  the  possible  independ- 
ence of  the  spirit  from  the  body,  but  also  that  it  acquires  a 
sense  superior  to  the  five  bodily  senses. 

This  state  can  be  produced  by  a Hypnotist  whose  positive 
sphere  blends  with  and  over-rules  the  negative  sphere  of  the 
impressible  subject. 

4.  Clairvoyance. — The  supremacy  of  one  mind  over 
another  is  best  seen  in  clairvoyance,  in  which  mind  rises 
entirely  above  the  corporeal  senses,  sees  objects  at  the 
remotest  distance,  hears  and  feels  independent  of  the  body, 
and  of  all  physical  organisms. 

5.  The  Super-clairvoyant  is  a state  of  independent  clair- 
voyance— another  step  upwards — in  which  the  spirit  leaves 
the  body,  and,  united  with  it  only  by  the  finest  cord,  traver- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


155 


ses  the  remotest  regions,  converses  with  superior  intelli- 
gences, and  after  its  wanderings  again  returns  to  the  physical 
body.  During  the  continuance  of  this  state  the  body  is 
motionless,  vitality  almost  ceases,  the  blood  scarcely  flows  in 
the  veins,  and  all  the  other  appearances  are  those  of  death. 

6.  Death,  or  the  Independent  Spiritual  State. — When  the 
cord  which  unites  the  spirit  with  the  body  is  broken,  death 
results,  and  the  spirit  cannot  again  enter  its  earthly  taber- 
nacle. The  vital  principle  which  animates  its  mechanism 
has  fled,  and  as  a useless  garment,  it  moulders  back  to  earth. 

How  closely  super- clairvoyance  approaches  death  is  seen 
in  Cahagnet’s  seance  with  his  ecstatic  Adele.  She  had  re- 
peatedly assured  him  that  there  was  great  danger  in  her 
ecstasy,  as  it  might  be  carried  too  far,  and  her  spirit  be  com- 
pletely severed  from  her  body.  He  wished  to  satisfy  him- 
self on  this  point,  and  allowed  her  to  sink  as  deeply  into 
that  state  as  she  pleased,  having  another  clairvoyant  to 
watch  her,  and  give  the  alarm  should  anything  serious  occur. 

At  length,  the  latter  exclaimed  that  he  had  lost  sight  of 
her.  On  examination,  not  the  slightest  pulse  was  discernible; 
and  holding  a mirror  to  her  lips  it  was  tarnished.  He  mag- 
netized her  with  the  most  powerful  efforts  of  his  will,  but  for 
a long  time  could  not  produce  the  slightest  effect.  Her  first 
words  were.  “Why  have  you  called  me  back?  It  was  all  over 
with  me;  but  God,  moved  by  your  prayer,  sent  me  back  to 
you.  No  more  shall  I be  permitted  to  return  to  Heaven.  I 
am  punished  ^ * I shall  no  longer  be  able  to  ascend  to 

Heaven;  but,  had  it  not  been  for  you,  I should  have  been 
there  now,  and  forever.’’ 

Death  opens  the  portals  to  the  next  sphere,  and  the  spirit 
always  sees  its  spirit  friends  before  it  departs.  In  illustration 
of  both  the  foregoing  positions,  we  introduce  the  following 
facts: — 


166 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


It  has  been  remarked  that  when  a person  faints  he  loses 
all  remembrance,  and  passes  into  a state  of  total  forgetful- 
ness; but  if  the  syncope  be  prolonged  to  the  average  of  death, 
and  the  person  then  recovers,  he  will  remember  things  which 
occurred  in  that  state.  In  other  words,  the  memory  is  a 
blank  in  the  first  stages  of  mesmerism,  but  in  the  higher 
stages,  bordering  on  death,  it  is  active.  The  relation  of  in- 
stances to  this  point  will  illustrate. 

A lady  departed  this  life  under  an  influence  which  caused 
repeated  fainting.*^  When  she  recovered  from  the  first  con- 
dition of  syncope,  she  appeared  unconscious  of  what  had 
transpired.  She  sunk  again,  and  revived;  it  was  still  the 
same.  She  fainted  still  more  profoundly,  yet,  when  she 
revived,  could  not  recall  her  thoughts.  At  length  she 
seemed  entirely  gone,  and  her  friends  thought  the  struggle 
was  passed;  but  she  revived,  this  time  fully  conscious  of  what 
she  saw  in  the  trance  state,  which  now  began  to  dawn,  as  the 
spiritual  rose  above  the  material,  and  clasping  her  hands 
together,  exclaimed,  “Ah,  I was  in  an  entirely  new  place!’’ 
and  fell  back,  this  time,  into  the  embrace  of  death,  which 
transported  her  immortal  spirit  to  that  beautiful  place  she 
saw  in  her  previous  trance,  while  the  cast  off  body  remained 
to  moulder  back  to  dust. 

Dr.  Rush  records  an  instance  where  a man  supposed  dead 
recovered.  While  in  his  trance,  his  mind  was  extraordinarly 
active,  and  he  heard  and  saw  unutterable  things,  St.  Paul, 
in  a similar  state,  could  not  tell  whether  he  was  in  the  body 
or  out  of  it,  nor  could  he  describe  by  words  what  he  saw. 

A case  is  recorded  of  a revolutionary  officer,  who,  on  his 
death  bed,  made  an  agreement  with  his  daughter,  that  when 
the  new  world  revealed  itself  to  him  he  would  press  her  hand. 


*Cause  and  Cure  of  Infidelity,  by  David  Nelson,  p.  264. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


157 


He  was  a good  and  truthful  man,  yet  his  mind  was  clouded 
with  doubts,  and  he  feared  to  approach  the  dark  river.  Hour 
after  hour  she  sat  holding  his  hand,  waiting  the  promised 
signal.  The  struggle  had  passed.  He  lay  still  and  passive, 
drawing  the  slow,  gurgling  breath  which  proclaims  dissolu- 
tion. One  by  one  his  senses  were  closed,  his  vision  failed, 
his  hearing,  his  speech;  yet  life  remained.  Still  the  spirit  was 
not  sufficiently  free  to  see  its  future  abode.  At  length  that 
super* clairvoyant  stage  was  reached;  he  pressed  his  daugh- 
ter’s hand;  a gleam  of  light  radiated  his  countenance;  and 
that  moment  the  breath  ceased,  and  the  spirit  soared  to  its 
immortal  home. 

These  are  the  fundamental  propositions: — Mind  can  exist 
independent  of  the  physical  body;  Mind  is  referable  to  the 
spiritual  body.  In  their  support  we  bring  forward  the  vast 
volumes  of  facts  of  prevision,  prophecy,  clairvoyance,  and 
magnetism.  It  is  useless  to  give  a detail  of  facts  with  which 
everyone  the  least  versed  in  psychological  science  is  familiar. 
Suffice  it  to  glance  at  the  clairvoyant  subject,  and  remark 
the  relations  which  exists  between  the  mind  and  the  body. 

The  subject  has  entered  the  impressible  or  clairvoyant  s tate. 

Slowly  the  vital  powers  sink  until  the  body  becomes  as  it 
were  dead.  It  is  insensible  to  pain.  Even  in  the  excito-motor 
nerves  when  lacerated  or  burned  there  is  neither  sensation 
nor  movement.  The  mind  can  see  and  hear  at  an  immense 
distance,  or  else  it  leaves  the  body  and  traverses  the  regions 
of  space.  It  reads  the  thoughts  of  persons  at  a great  dis* 
tance,  and  when  it  comes  back  retains  a vivid  remembrance 
of  the  strange  scenes  it  has  witnessed;  and  testifies  to  the 
fact  that  it  was  really  detached,  except  by  a slender  connec- 
tion, from  the  body. 

From  the  normal  state  to  the  death  of  the  body,  or  com- 
plete separation  from  it  of  the  spirit,  are  successive  steps  by 


158 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


which  the  mind  leaves  the  physical  form.  In  the  normal 
state  it  is  inseparably  united;  then  it  rises  partially  above  it, 
and  manifests  the  newly -acquired  faculty  of  impressibility; 
then  it  becomes  magnetic  and  clairvoyant,  ani  exhibits  a 
noble  freedom  from  corporeal  restraints.  It  sees  when  the 
eyes  are  closed,  hears  the  slightest  sound  when  the  ears  are 
tightly  sealed,  and  by  its  superior  knowledge  conclusively 
shows  that  the  body  is  rather  detrimental  than  auxiliary  to 
the  expansion  of  thought. 

In  the  normal  state  there  is  a mutual  dependence  of  the 
mind  and  body  which  qualifies  man  for  the  earthly  sphere. 
Bjrn  in  intimate  relations,  nourished  together,  supported  by 
the  aid  they  furnish  each  other,  there  is  of  necessity  a remark- 
able dependence.  But  on  the  part  of  the  mind  this  is  only 
seeming,  not  real.  Back  of  the  nerves  and  brain,  of  cell  and 
cell- contents,  there  is  a necessity  for  higher  and  superior 
energy — ^just  as  beneath  all  the  changing  phenomena  of 
external  nature  great  and  incontrovertible  principles  are  seen 
upholding  on  their  Atlas  shoulders  all  created  things.  We 
must  go  farther  than  matter  to  account  for  the  phenomena 
observed.  We  cannot  refer  mind  entirely  to  the  body.  It 
does  not  originate  in  the  chemical  transformations  in  the 
brain;  these  are  means  of  its  manifestations;  and,  when  the 
complicated  nervous  structure  is  described,  it  is  considered 
as  the  engine  without  steam,  nicely  adjusted  for  the  opera- 
tions of  intelligence,  but  inert  until  moved  by  that  superior 
which  composes  the  spirit  body. 

If  mind  is  wholly  dependent  on  the  physical  body  it  could 
not  act  without  it.  Clairvoyance  would  be  as  impossible  for 
man  as  for  brutes.  But  clairvoyance  is  established,  and  yields 
a weighty  argument  that  mind  can  become  independent. 

If,  in  clairvoyance,  all  means  of  deception  are  destroyed, 
and  the  subject  retains  all  the  senses  unimpaired,  although 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


150 


the  external  organs  are  sealed,  then  the  independent  exist- 
ence of  mind  is  demonstrated.  Not  only  one  case,  but  in- 
numerable ones  have  and  are  occurring  of  the  strictest 
independent  prevision  and  spirtual  sight. 

If  the  decline  of  the  intellect,  in  old  age,  is  brought  for- 
ward in  support  of  the  dependence  of  mind  on  the  body,  the 
counterfact  can  be  arrayed  against  the  conclusions  deduced 
therefrom. 

There  are  men  who,  like  Humboldt,  to  their  oldest  age 
retain  their  intellectual  powers  unimpaired,  and  like  him, 
can  note  the  decay  of  the  physical  form,  mark  each  change 
and  calculate  with  the  calm  eye  of  philosophy  the  period  of 
dissolution.  He  devoted  life  exclusively  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  intellect  and  advanced  beyond  the  inflaence  of 
physical  decay,  While  his  body  was  falling  into  the  grave 
his  spirit  was  unimpaired,  and  ready  to  become  an  independ- 
ent being  as  soon  as  the  thread  which  bound  it  was  broken. 

Mind  is  an  effort  of  superior  causes,  and  if  those  causes 
do  not  reside  in  the  physical  form,  there  must  be  some  higher 
source  to  which  it  is  referable.  Beneath  the  external  phe- 
nomena is  the  spiritual  nature  of  man,  as  incarnated  in  his 
spiritual  body,  to  which  mind  must  be  referred. 

There  must  be  a medium  of  communication,  otherwise  no 
influence  could  pass  from  one  individual  to  another.  Even 
intangible  motion  cannot  be  communicated  without  the  in- 
tervention of  tangible  matter.  If  one  individual  influences 
the  thoughts  and  actions  of  another  in  a distant  apartment, 
simply  by  the  effect  of  his  will,  then  it  is  self-evident  that 
something  passes  from  one  to  the  other.  This  proposition 
does  not  require  proof,  for  it  is  self-evident  that  nothing  can- 
not create  something. 

What  is  this  something.^  Facts  conflict  with  hypothesis 
of  its  being  matter  radiated  from  one  individual  to  another, 


160 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


as  light  was  once  supposed  to  be  transmitted.  On  the  other 
hand,  all  these  phenomena  show  a striking  relationship  to 
light,  heat  and  kindred  agents,  and  whatever  explains  one, 
is  alike  applicable  to  all.  We  have  already  discussed  this 
subject,  and  to  the  universal  ether-ocean  referred  these  phe- 
nomena, and  as  waves  in  this  medium,  of  a certain  length, 
produce  light,  of  another  length  heat,  of  another  magnetism, 
so  of  another  length  they  produce  psychological  phenomena. 
As  a luminous  body  is  capable  of  producing  waves  of  light, 
a living  being  is  capable  of  producing  zoethic  waves.  These 
waves  are  transmitted  with  greater  rapidity  than  vibrations 
of  light,  their  velocity  being  about  250  000  miles  per  second. 

Now,  let  us  inquire  how,  by  means  of  these  undulations, 
one  individual  can  influence  another. 

According  to  the  above  theory,  the  brain  vibrates  like  the 
strings  of  a musical  instrument,  and  as  no  two  brains  are 
exactly  alike,  so  no  two  vibrate  alike.  This  illustration  is 
more  than  merely  an  illustration.  Both  depend  on  similar 
laws,  for  the  strings  excite  vibrations  in  the  air  which  are 
felt  by  the  tympanum  of  the  ear;  the  brain  excites  undula- 
tions in  ether  which  are  impressed  on  other  brains.  The 
nervous  system  alone  can  feel  those  waves.  The  string  of 
the  instrument  excites  similar  vibrations  in  contiguous 
strings;  for  the  atmosphere  transmits  the  waves  of  sound, 
or  being  set  in  motion  by  one  string,  by  its  momentum  sets 
the  other  string  in  vibration. 

This  is  very  beautifully  shown  by  a simple  experiment, 
which  well  illustrates  the  method  by  which  mind  influences 
mind. 

If  a plate  of  glass  is  strewn  with  sand,  and  while  held  in 
a horizontal  position,  a bow  be  drawn  across  its  edge,  a 
musical  sound  will  be  produced  from  the  vibration  of  the 
plate,  and  the  sjnd  by  the  vibrat  on,  will  be  thrown  into. 


Art  Wins  the  Heart. 


UBRARY 
OF  fM 

-'fHVERsiTY  OF  lUj^ 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS  16U 

various  geometric  lines,  according  to  the  note  produced — 
each  note  giving  rise  to  a figure  peculiar  to  itself.  So  inva- 
riably is  this  observed,  that  a piece  of  music  might  be  ac- 
curately written  from  the  forms  assumed  by  the  sand. 

Now,  if  a piece  of  parchment  or  paper  be  stretched,  with 
proper  precaution,  across  the  top  of  a large  bell  glass  and 
strewn  with  sand,  and  the  glass  plate  be  held  horizontally 
over  it,  and  the  bow  drawn  across  its  edge,  the  forms  as- 
sumed by  the  sand  on  the  paper  will  accurately  correspond 
with  the  forms  on  the  glass.  If  the  plate  is  slowly  removed 
to  greater  and  greater  distances,  the  same  correspondence 
will  exist,  until  the  distance  is  too  great  for  the  air  to  trans- 
mit the  vibrations. 

If  the  plate,  while  vibrating,  is  held  perpendicularly  to 
the  horizon,  the  figures  on  the  paper  will  form  into  straight 
lines  parallel  to  the  surface  of  the  plate,  by  creeping  along 
it,  instead  of  dancing  up  and  down.  If  the  plate  be  made 
to  turn  around  on  its  vertical  diameter  while  vibrating,  the 
lines  on  the^paper  will  revolve,  exactly  following  the  motions 
of  the  plate. 

When  a slow  air  is  played  on  a flute  near  this  apparatus, 
each  note  calls  up  a particular  form  in  the  sand,  which  the 
next  note  effaces  to  establish  its  own.  The  motion  of  the 
sand  will  even  detect  sounds  that  are  inaudible.  Besieged 
armies  have  discovered  the  direction  in  which  the  counter- 
mine was  working,  by  the  vibration  of  sand  on  a drumhead. 

Professor  Wheatstone  has  beautifully  illustrated  this  cor- 
respondence, or  rather  sympathy.  If  a sounding-board  is 
placed  so  as  to  resound  to  all  instruments  of  an  orchestra, 
connected  by  a metallic  rod  of  considerable  length,  with  the 
sounding-board  of  a harp  or  a piano,  the  latter  will  respond 
to  the  exact  notes  of  the  former. 


J62 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


The  effect  of  this  experiment  is  very  pleasant;  the  sounds, 
indeed,  have  so  little  intensity  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  at  a 
distance  from  the  reciprocating  instrument,  but  on  placing 
the  ear  close  to  it,  a diminutive  band  is  heard,  in  which  all 
the  instruments  preserve  their  distinctive  qualities  and  the 
pianos  and  fortes,  the  crescendos  and  diminuendos,  their 
relative  contrasts. 

The  nervous  system  is  inconceivably  finer  organized  than 
the  most  perfect  instrument,  and  if  such  delicate  sympathy  is 
exhibited  by  the  latter,  how  much  more  perfect  must  we  ex- 
pect it  in  the  former.  The  nerves,  like  tense  strings,  feel 
the  slightest  vibration  in  ether.  The  brain  records  each  vi- 
bration so  received.  Such  is  the  general  statement,  which 
teaches  that  all  minds  can  influence  each  other. 

Light  falls  on  all  substances  alike,  but  is  very  differently 
affected.  One  class  of  bodies  absorb  all  except  the  yellow 
rays;  another  all  but  the  blue;  another  all  but  the  red. 
Why  is  this?  Because  these  substances  are  so  organized 
that  they  respond  (sympathize)  only  to  the  waves  of  these 
colors. 

Some  individuals  have  the  ear  so  organized  that  they  can 
hear  certain  sounds,  but  are  totally  deaf  to  others.  The 
waves  of  sound  strike  all  tympanii  alike;  yet  in  these  in- 
stances they  are  incapable  of  responding  to  certain  waves. 
Some  persons  who  delight  in  music,  although  the  lower  notes 
are  plainly  heard,  as  soon  as  the  tune  rises  to  a high  key, 
cannot  hear  a single  sound.  In  others  this  is  reversed;  the 
high  notes  are  audible,  but  the  low  ones  are  lost.  The  eye 
of  some  individuals  is  similarly  arranged,  some  colors  being 
undiscernible,  while  others  are  perceptible.  For  the  cause 
of  such  effects  we  are  not  so  much  to  examine  the  ether  as 
the  construction  of  the  nerves.  We  know  that  the  same 
vibrations  exist  in  all  instances,  but  owing  to  peculiarities  of 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


163 


organization  many  of  them  are  not  felt.  The  law  is  mani- 
fest in  tlie  experiment  with  two  musical  strings  stretched 
parallel  to  each  other,  one  being  twice  or  three  times  the 
length  of  the  other.  If  the  shorter  is  set  in  vibration,  the 
longer  will  divide  into  two  or  three  segments  and  vibrate  in 
the  same  ratio.  In  order  to  have  one  string  cause  vibrations 
in  another,  there  must  exist  some  such  relations.  There 
must  be  a similarity.  So,  for  one  brain  to  transmit  its  vi- 
brations to  another  brain,  a similarity  must  exist.  As  a 
musical  string  extended  over  a bar  of  wood  or  iron  cannot 
transmit  its  state  of  vibration,  so  two  brains  entirely  differ- 
ently organized  cannot  respond  to  the  vibrations  of  each 
other.  All  brains  throw  out  vibrations,  as  all  strings  when 
extended  give  off  waves  of  sound;  but  as  the  string  must 
have  a corresponding  string  to  receive  its  vibrations,  so  the 
brain  must  have  a harmoniously  tuned  brain  to  receive  its 
vibrations. 

Here  we  arrive  at  the  philosophy  of  all  psychological  in- 
fluence, whether  received  under  the  name  of  magnetism, 
hypnotism,  mental  influence  or  spiritual  impression.  One 
law  underlies  and  ramifies  through  all  these  diversified 
effects. 

When  two  individuals  come  in  contact,  if  not  harmoni- 
ously organized,  at  least  in  some  point,  they  do  not  exert  a 
mental  influence  on  each  other;  but  if,  as  previously  shown, 
the  necessary  conditions  of  organization  are  complied  with, 
they  will,  in  a greater  or  lesser  degree,  exert  such  influence 
on  each  other. 

This  is  unavoidable,  whether  the  will  is  exerted  or  not: 
but  if  the  stronger  will  is  exerted,  its  power  is  proportion- 
ally greater  and  it  will  subdue  and  control,  that  is,  mesmer- 
ize the  weaker,  and  the  peculiar  phenomena  arising  from  one 
person  having  his  will  controlled  by  another  will  result, 


164 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


So  far  we  have  considered  the  relations  of  mind  as  con- 
nected with  the  body.  Now  let  us  turn  to  the  relation  these 
facts  and  theorizings  bear  to  spiritual  intercourse. 

It  is  not  the  body  which  magnetizes  nor  is  it  magnetized, 
it  is  the  mind;  and  it  produces  these  effects  outside  of  the 
physical  system.  In  proof  we  need  but  adduce  the  fact  that 
one  person  can  magnetize  another  by  the  simple  power  of 
will,  though  the  two  are  a thousand  miles  apart.  Here  we 
see  unaided  mind  producing  the  most  startling  zoethic  phe- 
nomena, and,  as  it  were,  detached  from  the  physical  body. 

A mind  thus  situated  is  in  the  same  position  as  a spirit. 
It  is  freed  from  the  physical,  except  that  it  has  a greater 
freedom,  and  is  more  exquisitely  susceptible  to  the  influence 
of  other  minds.  Hence  it  will  be  readily  perceived  that 
there  is  not  the  least  obstacle  in  the  way  of  one  spirit  im- 
pressing his  thoughts  on  another  harmonious  spirit.  The 
same  law  holds  good  between  them  as  between  magnetizer 
and  magnetized.  And  as  a man  is  a spirit  incarcerated  in 
a body,  and  in  that  respect  only  differing  from  a disem- 
bodied spirit,  his  want  of  susceptibility  alone  debars 
him  from  intercourse  with  spirits  above  him. 

It  is  remarked  as  strange  that  so  few  can  hold  this  inter- 
course, but  is  it  not  equally  strange  that  so  few  are  capable 
of  passing  into  the  mesmeric  state.^  Not  one  in  a thousand 
possesses  this  faculty  sufficiently  to  read  the  thoughts  of 
others,  yet  it  must  be  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree  to 
read  sentence  after  sentence  from  our  minds.  How  much 
more  susceptible  must  the  mind  become  to  write  a volume, 
word  by  word. 

Suppose  you  who  doubt,  magnetize  the  most  impressible 
person  you  can  find  and  when  you  think  him  completely 
under  your  control,  endeavor  to  make  him  speak  what  you 
think;  and  how  many  instances  will  occur.^  If  the  subject 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


165 


be  very  good,  the  ideas  will  be  given,  but  the  wording  will 
be  incorrect. 

The  following  instance  illustrates.  The  subject  was  ex- 
tremely susceptible.  It  is  reported  by  Capron,  in  Deleuze. 
A sealed  letter  was  given  to  the  magnetized  who  read  it: — 

'‘'‘No  other  than  the  eye  of  Omnipotence  can  read  this  in  this 
envelope.  1^37* 

The  true  reading  was: — 

'‘'On  other  than  the  eye  of  Omnipotence  can  read  this  sen- 
tence in  this  envelope  Troy,  N.  Y.,  August,  1837. 

Many  refer  this  and  kindred  facts  to  spiritual  intercourse 
rather  than  a law  of  mind;  but  it  is  preferable  to  meet  the 
subject  fairly  and  explain  the  cause  of  phenomena,  rather 
than  refer  such  as  we  cannot  account  for  to  spirits,  for  the 
sole  reason  of  our  own  inability  to  explain  them.  Such 
facts  as  are  really  spiritual  we  shall  refer  to  that  source,  but 
such  as  are  not,  we  shall  explain  by  other  means. 

Such  are  the  difficulties  of  spiritual  intercourse.  The 
magnetizer  will  appreciate  them  when  he  endeavors  to  im- 
press his  thoughts  on  his  subject.  But  he  can  do  so,  and  so 
can  we  and  often  with  complete  success.  But  the  sources 
of  error  are  numerous,  the  channels  imperfect  and  hence 
sentences  will  flow  widely  different  to  those  we  strive  to 
utter. 

The  Aladin  lamp,  ever  producing  startling  apparations, 
ever  overturning  and  revolutionizing  the  physical  and  spirit- 
ual worlds!  It  is  a mighty  word  synonymous  with  progress. 
The  human  heart  yearns  for  advancement,  and  only  through 
this  gateway  can  it  go.  Well  and  grandly  has  many  a 
writer  written  of  mutation,  metamorphosis — the  ebb  and  flow 
of  existence.  Of  it  an  Arabian  writer  has  told  a beautiful 
story  containing  a deep,  philosophical  truth.  “One  day,' 
says  he,  “I  passed  by  a very  ancient  and  populous  city,  and 


166 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


asked  one  of  its  inhabitants  how  long  it  had  been  founded.’* 
‘It  is  indeed  a mighty  city,’  replied  he;  ‘we  know  not  how 
long  it  has  existed,  and  our  ancestors  on  this  subject  were 
as  ignorant  as  ourselves.’  ‘Five  centuries  afterwards,  as  I 
passed  by  the  same  place,  I could  not  perceive  the  least  ves- 
tige of  a city.  I demanded  of  a peasant  who  was  gathering 
herbs  on  its  former  site,  how  long  it  had  been  destroyed.* 
‘In  sooth  a strange  question,*  replied  he;  ‘the  ground  here 
has  never  been  different  from  what  you  now  behold  it.’ 
‘Was  there  not  of  old,’  said  I,  ‘a  splendid  city  here.^  * 
‘Never,’  answered  he,  ‘so  far  as  we  have  seen;  and  never 
did  our  fathers  speak  to  us  of  any  such.’  On  my  return 
there  five  hundred  years  afterwards,  I found  the  sea  in  the 
same  place,  and  on  its  shores  were  a party  of  fisher- 
men, of  whom  I enquired  how  long  the  land  had  been  cov- 
ered by  the  water.  ‘Is  this  a question/  said  they,  for  a man 
like  you?  This  spot  has  always  been  what  it  is  now.*  I 
again  returned  five  hundred  years  afterwards,  and  the  sea 
had  disappeared,  I inquired  of  a man  who  stood  alone 
upon  the  spot,  how  long  ago  this  change  had  taken  place, 
and  he  gave  me  the  same  answer  I had  received  before. 
Lastly,  on  coming  back,  after  an  equal  lapse  of  time,  I 
found  there  a flourishing  city,  more  populous  and  more  rich 
in  beautiful  buildings  than  the  city  I had  seen  the  first  time; 
and  when  I would  fain  have  informed  myself  concerning  its 
origin,  the  inhabitants  answered  me,  ‘Its  rise  is  lost  in  re- 
mote antiquity.  We  are  ignorant  how  long  it  has  existed; 
and  our  fathers  were,  on  this  subject,  as  ignorant  as  we 
ourselves.’ 

Such  is  the  perpetual  revolution  and  unrest  of  the  world. 
Where  the  miasmatic  marsh  putrefies  in  the  sun  to  day,  to- 
morrow the  rank  flags  and  loathsome  reptiles  give  place  to 
populous  streets  and  splendid  edifices.  Where  the  rude 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


167 


canoe  battles  the  stream,  to-morrow  its  pride  shall  be  con- 
quered by  the  broad-chested  steamer.  The  ocean  swallows 
up  its  coasts  in  one  place,  to  vomit  them  in  another.  Its 
bed,  like  the  firm  land,  is  unstable.  One  jar  of  the  earth- 
quake, and  they  rise  or  fall.  Mountains  jut  up,  around 
which  clouds  nestle  or  valleys  gape,  in  whose  depths  reigns 
eternal  night.  Continents  rear  their  broad  backs  from  the 
sea,  or  disappear.  Oceans  are  formed  or  converted  into  dry 
land. 

The  globe,  internally  and  externally,  is  replete  with  change. 
All  beneath  is  a fluctuating  sea  of  fire,  spouting  through  vol- 
canic vents,  or,  when  confined,  rocking  the  unstable  crust. 
Around  us  spread  oceans  with  ceaseless  tidal  flow,  and  above 
us  expands  an  atmosphere  which  never  rests. 

The  stars  of  heaven  sway  hither  and  thither.  The  moon 
periodically  grows  and  fades.  The  year  grows  old  and  dies. 
Ever  is  it  putting  on  different  robes.  In  the  spring  we  wel- 
come a joyous  maiden  with  blushing  cheeks  and  sunny  curls, 
blue  laughing  eyes,  dropping  with  tears  of  happiness.  She  is 
crowned  with  flowers,  her  breath  is  redolent  with  the  sweet- 
ness of  clover,  the  increase  of  flocks  and  herds  are  her  retinue; 
the  young  birds  warbling  joyfully,  and  the  bleating  of  lamb- 
kins, her  musical  voice.  In  summer  the  maid  matures  and 
throws  aside  her  flowers.  She  labors  in  the  field,  the  orchard, 
the  vineyard.  By  autumn  she  has  become  a dignified  matron, 
with  a garb  of  russet  brown;  her  flower- wreath  is  exchanged 
for  one  of  heads  of  yellow  grain  and  mingled  fruits,  and  she 
gathers  into  her  lap  sheaves  of  the  harvest,  the  ears  of  the 
golden  corn,  the  luscious  apple,  the  peach,  and  the  grape. 

But  ere  she  enjoys  the  fruits  of  her  toil,  she  becomes  a 
maniac,  and  dressed  in  fantastic  garb,  hides  herself  in  October 
haze,  and  finishes  by  killing  the  flowers  and  disrobing  the 
trees,  which  she  has  labored  to  feed  and  clothe.  The  frosts 


168 


HOW  TO  W[N, 


wrinkle  her  features;  the  cold  winds  bend  her  form;  she  tot- 
ters onward  awhile  a decirpit  hag,  clad  in  ragged  mourning 
weeds;  totters  on  through  the  snow,  with  the  wild  winds 
tossing  her  silvery  hair,  and  the  enraged  trees  shrieking  above 
her  head;  totters  on  through  the  storm,  over  frozen  streams 
wrinkled  with  congealing  agony,  contorted  like  serpents 
frozen,  by  ice-sheeted  lakes,  over  which  the  wind  raves,  tot- 
ters on  by  cottages  frozen  without,  ice  bound,  icicle-eaved, 
but  warm-hearthed  and  warm-hearted  within;  stops  not,  but 
on  in  the  pine  forest,  where  the  snow- laden  trees  have  lost 
their  green  tresses,  falls  down  and  expires.  To-morrow 
another  blooming  maiden  comes  with  cheeks  as  red  and 
breath  as  fragrant,  as  though  the  day  was  eternal.  So, 
ever  phoenix-like,  youth  springs  from  the  ashes  of  decay. 
The  fallen  tree  moulders  back  to  dust,  and  is  absorbed  by 
other  trees,  by  insects  burrowing  in  its  structure,  by  animals 
cropping  the  green  grass  growing  above  it. 

The  atom  which  existed  yesterday  in  the  ear  of  corn,  to-day 
becomes  assimilated  in  the  animal,  to-morrow  may  become  a 
part  of  man,  and  thereafter  originate  an  idea,  which,  may 
overturn  empires  and  states. 


CHAPTER  XI 


*QOLDEN  GEMS  OF  LIFE. 


[E  CAN  conceive  of  no  spectacle  better  calculated  to 
lead  the  mind  to  serious  reflections  than  that  of  an 
aged  person,  who  has  misspent  along  life,  and  who, 
when  standing  near  the  end  of  life's  journey,  only  to  recall  op- 
portunities unimproved.  Now  that  it  is  all  too  late,  he  can 
plainly  see  where  he  passed  by  in  heedless  haste  the  real 
gems  of  life  in  pursuit  of  the  glittering  gewgaws  of  pleasure, 
but  which,  when  gained,  like  the  apples  of  Sodom,  turned  to 
ashes  in  his  very  grasp.  What  a different  course  would  he 
pursue  would  time  but  turn  backwards  in  its  flight  and  he 
be  allowed  to  commence  anew  to  weave  the  “tangled  web  of 
life.”  But  this  is  not  vouchsafed  him.  Regrets  are  useless, 
save  when  they  awaken  in  the  minds  of  youth  a wish  to  avoid 
errors  and  a desire  to  gather  only  the  true  “jewels  of  life.” 
Life,  with  its  thousand  voices  wailing  and  exulting,  reprov- 
ing and  exalting,  is  calling  upon  you.  Arouse,  and  gird 
yourself  for  the  race.  Up  and  onward,  and 

‘‘Waking, 

Be  awake  to  sleep  no  more.” 

*Selected  in  part  from  our  large  work  (608  pages)  bearing  this  title. 
Price  $3.00.  169 


170 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Not  alone  by  its  ultimate  destiny,  but  by  its  immediate 
obligations,  uses,  enjoyments,  and  advantages,  must  be  esti- 
mated the  infinite  and  untold  value  of  life.  It  is  a great 
mission  on  which  you  are  sent.  It  is  the  choicest  gift  in  the 
bounty  of  heaven  committed  to  your  wise  and  dilligent  keep- 
ing, and  is  associated  with  countless  benefits  and  priceless 
boons  which  heaven  alone  has  power  to  bestow.  But,  alas! 
its  possibilities  for  woe  are  equal  to  those  of  weal. 

It  is  a crowning  triumph  or  a disastrous  defeat,  garlands 
or  chains,  a prison  or  a prize.  We  need  the  eloquence  of 
Ulysses  to  plead  in  our  behalf,  the  arrows  of  Hercules  to  do 
battle  on  our  side.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  you  to 
make  the  journey  of  life  a successful  one.  To  do  so  you  must 
begin  with  right  ideas.  If  you  are  mistaken  in  your  present 
estimates  it  is  best  to  be  undeceived  at  the  first,  even  though 
it  cast  a shadow  on  your  brow.  It  is  true  that  life  is  not 
mean,  but  it  is  grand.  It  is  also  a real  and  earnest  thing. 
It  has  homely  details,  painful  passages,  and  a crown  of  care 
for  every  brow. 

We  seek  to  inspire  you  with  a wish  and  a will  to  meet  it 
with  a brave  spirit.  We  seek  to  point  you  to  its  nobler  mean- 
ings and  its  higher  results.  The  tinsel  with  which  your 
imagination  has  invested  it  will  all  fall  of  itself  so  soon  as 
you  have  fairly  entered  on  its  experience.  So  we  say  to  you, 
take  up  life’s  duties  now,  learn  something  of  what  life  is  be- 
fore you  take  upon  yourself  its  great  responsibilities. 

Great  destinies  lie  shrouded  in  your  swiftly  passing  hours; 
great  responsibilities  stand  in  the  passages  of  every  day  life; 
great  dangers- lie  hidden  in  the  by-paths  of  life’s  great  high- 
way; great  uncertainty  hangs  over  your  future  history.  God 
has  given  you  existence,  with  full  power  and  opportunity  to 
improve  it  and  to  be  happy;  he  has  given  you  equal  power  to 
despise  the  gift  and  be  wretched;  which  you  will  do  is  the 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


171 


great  problem  to  be  solved  by  your  choice  and  conduct. 
Your  bliss  or  misery  in  two  worlds  hangs  pivoted  in  the 
balance. 

With  God  and  a wish  to  do  right  in  human  life  it  becomes 
essentially  a noble  and  beautiful  thing  Every  youth  should 
form  at  the  outset  of  his  career  the  solemn  purpose  to  make 
the  most  and  the  best  of  the  powers  which  God  has  given 
him,  and  so  turn  to  the  best  possible  account  every  outward 
advantage  within  his  reach.  This  purpose  must  carry  with 
the  assent  of  the  reason,  the  approval  of  the  conscience,  the 
sober  judgment  of  the  intellect.  It  should  thus  embody 
within  itself  whatever  is  vehement  in  desire,  inspiring  in 
hope,  thrilling  in  enthusiasm,  and  intense  in  desperate 
resolve.  To  live  a life  with  such  a purpose  is  a peerless 
privilege,  no  matter  at  what  cost  of  transient  pain  or  unre- 
mitting toil. 

Many  people  ask  for  information  regarding  Personal  Mag- 
netism with  but  one  motive,  and  that  motive  is  to  use  it  to 
gain  power  over  others;  some  desire  to  use  it  for  success  in 
business,  others  for  success  in  love  and  we  can  in  most  every 
case  point  out  the  road  to  them,  by  means  of  our  knowledge 
of  Occult  laws  whereby  they  may  gratify  their  desires.  It  is 
natural  and  right  that  the  desires  which  spring  up  unbidden 
in  the  human  breast  should  be  gratified  when  the  right  of 
no  one  else  is  interfered  with,  and  the  men  who  have  strong 
desires  and  a determination  to  attain  them  are  always  pow- 
erful levers  in  society.  Ungratified  ambitions  and  unsatis- 
fied desires  are  the  whips  and  spurs  which  give  keenness  and 
zest  to  life,  and  a life  of  success  means  nothing  less  than  a 
continual  overcoming  of  obstacles  and  a continual  gratifica- 
tion of  desires. 

But  leaving  out  of  the  question  altogether  the  added 
power  which  comes  with  Personal  Magnetism.  We  hold 


172 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


that  its  best  reward  is  in  the  added  happiness  and  joy  in 
living  which  comes  with  the  study  itself.  It  brings  with  it 
health,  and  yet  its  rewards  are  far  sweeter  than  health,  for 
with  the  training  necessary  to  master  the  study  comes  a 
realization  of  one's  own  ability  to  rise  above  conflicting  and 
harassing  conditions  into  a more  serene  and  tranquil  atmos- 
phere, this  alone  is  worth  all  the  struggle  and  effort  which  it 
costs;  it  arms  those  who  consciously  possess  it  with  a sense 
of  invincible  power;  a knowledge  of  higher  powers  than  most 
men  know  anything  of,  and  this  knowledge  brings  a cheer- 
fulness and  hopefulness,  a serenity  and  evenness  of  mind 
that  makes  life  a never  ending  pleasure.  The  rewards  of 
Personal  Magnetism  lie  principally  in  the  consciousness  of 
possessing  it. 

Personal  Magnetism,  is  a thing  above  professions,  call- 
ings and  creeds.  It  is  a thing  which  brings  to  its  nourish- 
ment all  good,  and  appropriates  to  its  development  of  power 
all  evil.  It  is  the  greatest  and  best  thing  under  the  whole 
heavens.  Place  can  not  enhance  its  honor;  wealth  can  not 
add  to  its  value.  Its  course  lies  through  true  manhood  and 
womanhood;  through  true  fatherhood  and  motherhood; 
through  true  friendship  and  relationship  of  all  legitimate 
kinds — of  all  natural  sorts  whatever.  It  lies  through  sorrow 
and  pain  and  poverty  and  all  earthly  discipline.  It  lies 
through  unswerving  trust  in  God  and  man  It  lies  through 
patient  and  self-denying  heroism.  It  lies  through  all  heaven 
prescribed  and  conscientious  duty;  and  it  leads  as  straight 
to  heaven's  brightest  gate  as  the  path  of  a sunbeam  leads  to 
the  bosom  of  a flower. 

Many  of  you  to-day  are  just  starting  on  the  duties  of  active 
life.  The  volume  of  the  future  lies  unopened  before  you. 
Its  covers  are  illuminated  by  the  pictures  of  fancy,  and  its 
edges  are  gleaming  with  the  golden  tints  of  hope.  Vainly 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


173 


you  strive  to  loosen  its  wondrous  clasp;  ^is  a task  which 
none  but  the  hand  of  Time  can  accomplish.  Life  is.  before 
you — not  earthly  life  alone,  but  life;  a thread  running  inter- 
minably through  the  warp  of  eternity.  It  is  a sweet  as  well 
as  a great  and  wondrous  thing.  Man  may  make  life  what  he 
pleases  and  give  it  as  much  worth,  both  for  himself  and 
others,  as  he  has  energy  for. 

The  journey  is  a laborious  one,  and  you  must  not  expect 
to  find  the  road  all  smooth.  And  whether  rich  or  poor,  high 
or  low,  you  will  be  disappointed  if  you  build  on  another 
foundation.  Take  life  like  a man;  take  it  just  as  though  it 
was  as  it  is — an  earnest,  vital,  essential  affair.  Take  it  just 
as  though  a merry  part  in  it — as  though  the  world  had 
waited  for  your  coming.  Live  for  something,  and  for  some- 
thing worthy  of  life  and  its  capabilities  and  opportunities, 
for  noble  deeds  and  achievements.  Every  man  and  every 
woman  has  his  or  her  assignments  in  the  duties  and  respon- 
sibilities of  daily  life.  We  are  in  the  world  to  make  the 
world  better,  to  lift  it  up  to  higher  levels  of  enjoyment  and 
progress,  to  make  the  hearts  and  homes  brighter  and  hap- 
pier by  devoting  to  our  fellows  our  best  thoughts,  activities, 
and  influences. 

It  is  the  motto  of  every  true  heart  and  the  genius  of  every 
noble  life  that  no  man  liveth  to  himself — lives  chiefly  for  his 
own  selfish  good.  It  is  a law  of  our  intellectual  and  moral 
being  that  we  promote  our  own  real  happiness  in  the  exact 
proportions  we  contribute  to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of 
others.  Nothing  worthy  the  name  of  happiness  is  the  ex- 
perience of  those  who  live  only  for  themselves,  all  oblivious 
to  the  welfare  of  their  fellows.  That  only  is  true  philosophy 
which  recognizes  and  works  out  the  principle  in  daily 
life  that— 

**  Life  was  lent  for  noble  deeds.” 


174 


HOW  TO  WIN. 


Life  embraces  in  its  comprehensiveness  a just  return  of 
failure  and  success  as  the  result  of  individual  perseverance 
and  labor.  Live  for  something  definite  and  practical;  take 
hold  of  things  with  a will,  and  they  will  yield  to  you  and  be- 
come the  ministers  of  your  own  happiness  and  that  of  others. 
Nothing  within  the  realm  of  the  possible  can  withstand  the 
man  or  woman  who  is  intelligently  bent  on  success.  Every 
person  carries  within  the  key  that  unlocks  either  door  of 
success  or  failure.  Which  shall  it  be?  All  desire  success; 
the  problem  of  life  is  its  winning. 

Strength,  bravery,  dexterity,  and  unfaltering  nerve  and 
resolution  must  be  the  portion  and  attribute  of  those  who 
resolve  to  pursue  fortune  along  the  rugged  road  of  life.  Their 
path  will  often  lie  amid  rocks  and  crags,  and  not  on  lawns 
and  among  lilies.  A great  action  is  always  preceded  by  a 
great  purpose.  History  and  daily  life  are  full  of  examples 
to  show  us  that  the  measure  of  human  achievements  has 
always  been  proportional  to  the  amount  of  human  daring 
and  doing.  Deal  with  questions  and  facts  of  life  as  they 
really  are.  What  can  be  done,  and  is  worth  doing,  do  with 
dispatch;  what  can  not  be  done,  or  would  be  worthless  when 
done,  leave  for  the  idlers  and  dreamers  along  life’s  highway. 

Life  often  presents  us  with  a choice  of  evils  instead  of 
good;  and  if  any  one  would  get  through  life  honorably  and 
peacefully  he  must  learn  to  bear  as  well  as  forbear,  to  hold 
the  temper  in  subjection  to  the  judgment,  and  to  practice 
self-denial  in  small  as  well  as  great  things.  Human  life  is 
a watch-tower.  It  is  the  clear  purpose  of  God  that  every 
one — the  young  especially — should  take  their  stand  on  this 
tower,  to  look,  listen,  learn,  wherever  they  go  and  where- 
ever  they  tarry.  Life  is  short,  and  yet  for  you  it  may  be 
long  enough  to  lose  your  character,  your  constitution,  or 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


175 


your  estate;  or,  on  the  other  hand,  by  diligence  you  can  ac- 
complish much  within  its  limits. 

If  the  sulptor’s  chisel  can  make  impressions  on  marble  in 
a few  hours  which  distant  eyes  shall  read  and  admire,  if 
the  man  of  genius  can  create  work  in  life  that  shall  speak 
the  triumph  of  mind  a thousand  years  hence,  then  may  true 
men  and  women,  alive  to  the  duty  and  obligations  of  exist- 
ence, do  infinitely  more.  Working  on  human  hearts  and 
destinies,  it  is  the  prerogative  to  do  imperishable  work,  to 
build  within  life’s  fleeting  hours  monuments  that  shall  last 
forever.  If  such  grand  possibilities  lie  within  the  reach  of 
our  personal  actions  in  the  world  how  important  that  we 
live  for  something  every  hour  of  our  existence,  and  for  some- 
thing that  is  harmonious  with  the  di  gnity  of  our  present 
being  and  the  grandeur  of  our  future  destiny. 

A steady  aim,  with  a strong  arm,  willing  hands,  and  a res- 
olute will,  are  the  necessary  requisites  to  the  conflict  which 
begins  anew  each  day  and  writes  upon  the  scroll  of  yester- 
day the  actions  that  form  one  mighty  column  wherefrom  true 
worth  is  estimated.  One  day’s  work  left  undone  causes  a 
break  in  the  great  chain  that  years  of  toil  may  not  be  able 
to  repair.  Yesterday  was  ours,  but  it  is  gone;  to-day  is  all 
we  possess,  for  to-morrow  we  may  never  see;  therefore,  in  the 
hour  of  the  present  the  seeds  are  planted  whereby  the  har- 
vest for  good  or  evil  is  to  be  reaped. 

To  endure  with  cheerfulness,  hoping  for  little,  asking  for 
much,  is,  perhaps,  tlie  true  plan.  Decide  at  once  upon  a 
noble  purpose,  then  take  it  up  bravely,  bear  it  off  joyfully, 
lay  it  down  triumphantly.  Be  industrious,  be  frugal,  be 
honest,  deal  with  kindness  with  all  who  come  in  your  way, 
and  if  you  do  not  prosper  as  rapidly  as  you  would  wish 
depend  upon  it  you  will  be  happy. 


176 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


The  web  of  life  is  drawn  into  the  loom  for  us,  but  we  weave 
it  ourselves.  We  throw  our  own  shuttle  and  work  our  own 
treadle.  The  warp  is  given  us,  but  the  woof  we  furnish — 
find  our  own  materials,  and  color  and  figure  it  to  suit  our- 
selves. Every  man  is  the  architect  of  his  own  house,  his 
own  temple  of  fame.  If  he  builds  one  great,  glorious,  and 
honorable,  the  merit  and  the  bliss  are  his;  if  he  rears  a 
polluted,  unsightly,  vice-haunted  den,  to  himself  the  shame 
and  misery  belongs. 

Life  is  often  but  a bitter  struggle  from  first  to  last  with 
many  who  wear  smiling  faces  and  are  ever  ready  with  a 
cheerful  word,  when  there  is  scarcely  a shred  left  of  the 
hopes  and  opportunities  which  for  years  promised  happiness 
and  content.  But  it  is  human  still  to  strive  and  yearn  and 
grope  for  some  unknown  good  that  shall  send  all  unrest  and 
troubles  to  the  winds  and  settle  down  and  over  one’s  life 
with  a halo  of  peace  and  satisfaction.  The  rainbow  of  hope 
is  always  visible  in  the  future.  Life  is  like  a winding  lane — 
on  either  side  bright  flowers  and  tempting  fruits,  which  we 
scarcely  pause  to  admire  or  taste,  so  eager  are  we  to  pass  to 
an  opening  in  the  distance,  which  will  be  more  beautiful. 

We  creep  into  childhood,  bound  into  youth,  sober  into 
manhood,  and  totter  into  old  age.  But  through  all  let  us  so 
live  that  when  in  the  evening  of  life  the  golden  clouds  rest 
sweetly  and  invitingly  upon  the  golden  mountains,  and  the 
light  of  heaven  streams  down  through  the  gathering  mists  of 
death,  we  may  have  a peaceful  and  joyous  entrance  into  that 
world  of  blessedness,  where  the  great  riddle  of  life,  whose 
meaning,  we  can  only  guess  at  here  below,  will  be  unfolded 
to  us  in  the  quick  consciousness  of  a soul  redeemed  and 
purified. 

The  harp  holds  in  its  wires  the  possibilities  of  noblest 
chords;  yet,  if  they  be  not  struck,  they  must  hang  dull  and 


Christmas  Time. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UMIVERSiTY  OF  ILilMOiS 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


177 


useless.  So  the  mind  is  vested  with  a hundred  powers,  that 
must  be  smitten  by  a heavy  hand  to  prove  themselves  the 
offspring  of  divinity. 

Welcome,  then,  adversity!  Thy  hand  is  cold  and  hard, 
but  it  is  the  hand  of  a friend!  Thy  voice  is  stern  and  harsh, 
but  it  is  the  voice  of  a friend!  There  is  something  sublime 
in  the  resolute,  fixed  purpose  of  suffering  without  complain- 
ing, which  makes  disappointment  often  better  than  success. 

As  full  ears  load  and  lay  corn,  so  does  too  much  fortune 
bend  and  break  the  mind.  It  deserves  to  be  considered,  too, 
as  another  advantage,  that  affliction  moves  pity,  and  recon- 
ciles our  very  enemies;  but  prosperity  provokes  envy,  and 
loses  us  our  very  friends  Again,  adversity  is  a desolate 
and  abandoned  state;  the  generality  of  people  are  like  those 
infamous  animals  that  live  only  upon  plenty  and  rapine;  and 
as  rats  and  mice  forsake  a tottering  house,  so  do  these  the 
falling  man.  He  that  has  never  known  adversity  is  but  half 
acquainted  with  others  or  with  himself.  Constant  success 
shows  us  but  one  side  of  the  world;  for  as  it  surrounds  us 
with  friends  who  tell  us  only  of  our  merits,  so  it  silences 
those  enemies  from  whom  only  we  can  learn  our  defects. 

Adversity,  sage,  useful  guest. 

Severe  instructor,  but  the  best; 

It  is  from  thee  alone  we  know 
Justly  to  value  things  below. 

Adversity  exasperates  fools,  dejects  cowards,  draws  out 
the  faculties  of  the  wise  and  industrious,  puts  the  modest 
to  the  necessity  of  trying  their  skill,  awes  the  opulent,  and 
makes  the  idle  industrious.  A smooth  sea  never  made  a 
skillful  mariner,  neither  do  uninterrupted  prosperity  and 
success  qualify  men  for  usefulness  and  happiness.  The 
storms  of  adversity,  like  those  of  the  ocean,  rouse  the  facul- 


178 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


ties,  and  excite  the  invention,  produce,  skill  and  fortitude 
of  the  voyager.  The  martyrs  of  ancient  times,  in  bracing 
their  minds  to  outward  calamities,  acquired  a loftiness  of 
purpose  and  amoral  heroism  worth  a lifetime  of  softness 
and  security. 

It  is  good  for  man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth. 
Oaks  are  made  hard  by  strong  discipline.  As  a gladiator 
trained  the  body,  so  must  we  train  the  mind  to  self-sacrifice, 
“to  endure  all  things,’’  to  meet  and  overcome  difficulty  and 
danger.  We  must  take  the  rough  and  thorny  roads  as  well 
as  the  smooth  and  pleasant;  and  a portion  at  least  of  our 
daily  duty  must  be  hard  and  disagreeable;  for  the  mind  can- 
not be  kept  strong  and  healthy  in  perpetual  sunshine  only, 
and  the  most  dangerous  of  all  states  is  that  of  constantly 
recurring  plea  sure,  ease  and  prosperity. 

It  seems  as  if  man  were  like  the  earth.  It  cannot  bask 
forever  in  sunshine.  The  snows  of  winter  and  frosts  must 
come  and  work  in  the  ground  and  mellow  it  to  make  it 
fruitful.  A man  upon  whom  continuous  sunshine  falls  is 
like  the  earth  in  August;  he  becomes  parched  and  dry,  and 
hard  and  close-grained.  To  some  men  the  winter  and 
spring  come  when  they  are  young;  others  are  born  in  sum- 
mer and  are  only  made  fit  to  die  by  a winter  of  sorrow  com- 
ing to  them  when  they  are  middle-aged  or  old. 

It  is  not  the  nursling  of  wealth  or  fortune  who  has  been 
dandled  into  manhood  on  the  lap  of  prosperity,  that  carries 
away  the  world’s  honors,  or  wins  its  mightiest  influence,  but 
it  is  rather  the  man  whose  earlier  years  were  cheered  by 
scarcely  a single  proffer  of  aid,  or  smile  of  approbation,  and 
who  has  drawn  from  adversity  the  elements  of  greatness. 
The  “talent”  which  prosperity  “folded  in  a napkin,”  the 
rough  hand  of  adversity  shook  out, 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


179 


The  men  who  stand  boldly  for  the  defense  of  the  truth,  in 
the  midst  of  the  flood  of  errors  that  surround  them,  are  not 
the  gentlemen  of  lily  fingers  who  have  been  rocked  in  the 
cradle  of  indulgence  and  caressed  in  the  lap  of  luxury;  but 
they  are  the  men  whom  necessity  has  called  from  the  shade 
of  retirement  to  contend  under  the  scorching  rays  of  the 
sun,  with  the  stern  realities  of  life  with  all  its  vicissitudes. 
It  is  good  for  a man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth. 
The  gem  cannot  be  polished  without  friction,  nor  man  per- 
fected without  adversity. 

The  patient  conquest  of  difficulties  which  rise  in  the  reg- 
ular and  legitimate  channels  of  business  and  enterprise,  is 
not  only  essential  in  securing  the  successes  which  you  seek, 
but  it  is  essential  to  the  preparation  of  your  mind,  requisite 
for  the  enjoyment  of  your  successes  and  for  retaining  them 
when  gained. 

Adversity  is  the  trial  of  principle.  Without  it  a man 
hardly  knows  whether  he  be  honest  or  not.  Night  brings 
out  the  stars  as  adversity  shows  us  truths:  we  never  see  the 
stars  till  we  can  see  little  or  naught  else;  and  thus  it  is  with 
truth.  When  you  feel  inclined  to  cry,  just  change  your 
mind  and  laugh.  Nothing  dries  sooner  than  tears. 

Adversity  certainly  has  its  uses  and  very  valuble  ones  too. 
It  has  been  truly  remarked  that  many  a man,  in  losing  his 
fortune,  has  found  himself.  Adversity  flattereth  no  man. 
Oft  from  apparent  ills  our  blessings  rise.  Who  never  fasts, 
no  banquet  e’er  enjoys.  In  prosperity  be  humble;  in  adver- 
sity, cheerful.  If  you  have  the  blues,  go  and  see  the  poor- 
est and  sickest  families  within  your  knowledge.  To  bear 
the  sharp  afflictions  of  life  like  men,  we  should  also  feel 
them  like  men.  The  darker  the  setting,  the  brighter  the 
diamond.  Probably  we  might  often  become  reconciled 


180 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


to  what  we  consider  a hard  lot  by  comparing  ourselves  with 
the  many  who  want  what  we  possess  rather  than  with  the  few 
who  possess  what  we  want.  He  is  happy  whose  circumstan- 
ces suit  his  temper;  but  he  is  happier  who  can  suit  his  tem- 
per to  his  circumstances.  There  is  a virtue  in  keeping  up 
appearances.  He  is  a fool  that  grumbles  at  every  little  mis- 
chance. Put  the  best  foot  forward,  is  an  old  and  good 
maxim.  Don't  run  about  and  tell  acquaintances  that  you 
have  been  unfortunate;  people  do  not  like  to  have  unfortu- 
nate men  for  acquaintances.  If  the  storm  of  adversity 
whistles  around  you,  whistle  as  bravely  yourself;  perhaps 
the  two  whistles  may  make  melody, 

Adversity  has  no  power  to  crush  the  spirit  or  subdue  the 
will  of  him  who  has  drunk  deep  from  the  sources  of  knowl- 
edge to  develop  his  own  soul  forces.  With  a body  thoroughly 
under  the  control  of  the  will,  with  the  subtle  fire  of  Magne- 
tism in  his  blood,  tingling  through  every  vein  and  artery, 
with  a buoyant  spirit  that  no  misfortune  can  overcome:  he 
can  laugh  at  danger,  and  resolutely  refuse  to  accept  defeat. 
There  is  no  failure  possible  for  him  whose  life  is  upright 
and  who  scorns  to  listen  to  the  temptations  of  dishonor. 
Failure  only  comes  to  those  whose  health  gives  way  or 
whose  spirit  is  broken  by  temporary  misfortune.  But  the 
fortunate  possessor  of  Personal  Magnetism,  though  he  may 
for  a time  be  involved  in  loss,  or  sorrow,  or  business  depres- 
sion, can  quietly  set  his  own  forces  to  work  to  bring  order 
out  of  chaos  and  make  seeming  failure  the  stepping  stone  to 
future  success.  If  adversity  comes  in  the  form  of  sickness 
the  magnetic  person  is  always  ready  to  cheer  the  sorrowing, 
and  by  the  mere  influence  of  his  presence  to  bring  sunshine 
and  cheerfulness  to  those  around  him.  How  blind  are  those 
who  while  possessing  this  force  within  themselves  fail  to 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


181 


acquire  a knowledge  of  how  it  may  be  made  available  in 
every  day  life.  To  those  who  wish  to  rise  above  ignorance 
and  who  are  ready  to  believe  that  there  is  something  real 
and  practical  in  the  Occult  Forces  of  life.  We  can  say  press 
on  and  success  will  reward  you,  and  the  time  will  come 
when  you  will  look  back  to  the  time  when  you  first  turned 
your  attention  toward  Personal  Magnetism  as  the  red  letter 
day  of  your  life. 

Stepping  stones  are  advantages,  auxiliaries,  power,  etc., 
and  these  are  attained  no  other  way  than  through  personal 
experiences.  Our  trials  of  life  strengthen  us,  discourage- 
ments, disappointments,  misfortunes,  failures,  adversities  and 
calamities,  are  all  stepping  stones  for  us;  each  successive 
victory  raises  us  higher  in  strength  and  power.  It  is  through 
trials  that  stout  hearts  are  made.  It  is  through  adversity 
that  our  patience  and  courage  is  increased. 

Men  are  frequently  like  tea — the  real  strength  and  good- 
ness are  not  properly  drawn  out  of  them  till  they  have  been 
a short  time  in  hot  water  The  ripest  fruit  grows  on  the 
roughest  wall.  It  is  the  small  wheels  of  the  carriage  that 
come  in  first.  The  man  who  holds  the  ladder  at  the  bottom 
is  frequently  of  more  service  than  he  who  is  stationed  at  the 
top  of  it.  The  turtle,  though  brought  in  at  a rear  gate, 
takes  the  head  of  the  table.  “Better  to  be  the  cat  in  the 
philanthropist’s  family  than  a mutton  pie  at  a king’s  banquet. 

He  who  bears  adversity  well  gives  the  best  evidence  that 
he  will  not  be  spoiled  by  prosperity.  Many  a promising  rep- 
utation has  been  destroyed  by  early  success.  It  is  far  from 
being  true,  in  the  progress  of  knowledge,  that  after  every 
failure  we  must  recommence  from  the  beginning.  Every 
failure  is  a step  to  success;  every  detection  of  what  is  false 
directs  us  toward  what  is  true;  every  trial  exhausts  some 


182 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


tempting  form  of  error.  Not  only  so,  but  scarcely  any  at- 
tempt is  entirely  a failure;  scarcely  any  theory,  the  result  of 
steady  thought,  is  altogether  false;  no  tempting  form  of  error 
is  without  some  latent  charm  derived  from  truth. 

Doubtless  a deeper  feeling  of  individual  responsibility, 
and  a better  adaptation  of  talent  to  its  fields  of  labor,  are 
necessary  to  bring  about  a better  state  of  society,  and  a bet- 
ter condition  for  the  individual  members  of  it.  But  with  the 
most  careful  adaptation  of  talent  and  means  to  pursuits, 
no  man  can  succeed  as  a general  principle,  who  has  not  a 
fixed  and  regular  purpose  in  his  mind  and  an  unwavering 
faith  that  he  can  carry  that  purpose  out. 

Man  is  born  a hero,  and  it  is  only  by  darkness  and  storms 
that  heroism  gains  its  greatest  and  best  development  and 
illustration;  then  it  kindles  the  black  cloud  into  a blaze  of 
glory  and  the  storm  bears  it  rapidly  to  its  destiny.  Despair 
not,  then,  disappointment  will  be  realized.  Mortifying  fail- 
ure will  attend  this  effort  and  that  one;  but  only  be  honest 
and  struggle  on  and  it  will  all  work  well. 

What  though  once  supposed  friends  have  disclaimed  and 
deserted  thee — fortune,  the  jade,  deceived  thee — and  the 
stern  tyrant,  adversity,  roughly  asserted  his  despotic  power 
to  trample  thee  down?  “While  there’s  life  there’s  hope.” 
Has  destruction’s  busy  tongue  assailed  thy  peace,  and  con- 
tumely’s venomed  shaft  poisoned  thy  happiness,  by  giving 
reputation  its  death  blow;  destroyed  thy  confidence  in 
friendly  promise,  and  rendered  thee  suspicious  of  selfishness 
in  the  exhibition  of  brotherly  kindness;  or  the  tide  of  public 
opinion  well  nigh  overwhelmed  thee  ’neath  its  angry  waves? 
Never  despair.  Yield  not  to  the  influence  of  sadness,  the 
blighting  power  of  dejection,  which  sinks  thee  in  degraded 
inaction,  or  drives  thee  to  seek  relief  in  some  fatal  vice,  or 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


183 


to  drown  recollection  in  the  poisoning  bowl.  Arouse  and 
shake  the  oppressive  burden  from  overpowering  thee. 
Quench  the  stings  of  slander  in  the  waters  of  Lethe;  bury 
despondency  in  oblivion;  fling  melancholy  to  the  winds,  and 
with  firm  bearing  and  a stout  heart  push  on  to  the  attain- 
ment of  a higher  goal.  The  open  field  for  energetic  action 
is  large,  and  the  call  for  vigorous  laborers  immensely  ex- 
ceed the  supply.  Much  precious  time  is  squandered,  val- 
uable labor  lost,  mental  activity  stupified  and  deadened  by 
vain  regrets,  useless  repinings  and  unavailing  idleness. 
The  appeal  for  volunteers  in  the  great  battle  of  life,  in  ex- 
terminating ignorance  and  error,  and  planting  high  on  an 
everlasting  foundation  the  banner  of  intelligence  and  right, 
is  directed  to  thee,  wouldst  thou  but  grant  it  audience.  Let 
no  cloud  again  darken  thy  spirit,  or  weight  of  sadness  op- 
press thy  heart.  Arouse  ambition’s  smouldering  fires.  The 
laurel  may  e’en  now  be  wreathed  destined  to  grace  thy  brow. 
Burst  the  trammels  that  impede  thy  progress  and  cling  to 
hope.  The  world  frowned  darkly  upon  all  who  have  ever 
yet  won  fame’s  wreath,  but  on  they  toiled.  Place  high  thy 
standard,  and  with  a firm  tread  and  fearless  eye  press  stead- 
ily onward.  Persevere  and  thou  wilt  surely  reach  it.  Are 
there  those  who  have  watched,  unrewarded,  through  long 
sorrowful  years,  for  the  dawning  of  a brighter  morrow,  when 
the  weary  soul  should  calmly  rest?  Hope’s  bright  rays  still 
illume  their  dark  pathways  and  cheerfully  they  watch. 
Never  despair!  Faint  not^  though  thy  task  be  heavy,  and 
victory  is  thine.  None  should  despair. 

All  can  cultivate  a cheerful  spirit  and  when  surrounded 
by  false  friends  and  overwhelmed  by  misfortune,  display  a 
calm  serenity  that  nothing  can  disturb  and  a perseverance 
that  nothing  can  daunt.  The  clouds  will  surely  roll  away 
after  the  storm  and  leave  the  sky  all  the  brighter.  Who  can 


184 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


read  without  admiration  of  the  spirit  which  animated  Socrates, 
when,  condemned  to  death  by  the  laws  of  the  country  which 
he  loved,  he  drank  the  hemlock  and  died  while  calmly  dis- 
coursing of  Philosophy  with  his  friends.  One  of  the  most 
successful  statesmen  of  England,  has  overcome  all  obstacles 
and  won  renown  by  a calm  demeanor  under  all  circum- 
stances, united  to  great  natural  ability.  It  is  related  oi 
Chamberlain  that  to  the  discomfiture  of  his  enemies  he  reso- 
lutely refuses  either  to  lose  his  temper  or  to  grow  old;  he 
meets  all  attacks  with  a smiling  urbanity  which  nothing  can 
disturb,  and  has  many  times  sustained  defeat  only  to  rise 
again  and  press  onward  to  still  greater  victories.  Then 
through  all  the  changing  fortunes  of  life,  keep  ever  the  Star 
of  Hope  in  view,  and  press  onward  and  upward. 


/ 


CHAPTER  XII. 


TRUE  N/jANHOOD. 


Be  noble ! and  the  nobleness  that  lies 
In  other  men,  sleeping  but  never  dead, 

Will  rise  in  majesty  to  meet  thine  own.  — Lowell. 

ANHOOD  is  the  isthmus  between  two  extremes — 
the  ripe,  the  fertile  season  of  action,  when  alone 
we  can  hope  lo  find  the  head  to  contrive  united 
with  the  hand  to  execute. 

Each  age  has  its  peculiar  duties  and  privileges,  pleasures 
and  pains.  When  young  we  trust  ourselves  too  much;  when 
old  we  trust  others  too  little.  Rashnessjis  the  error  of  youth, 
timid  caution  of  age.  In  youth  we  build  castles  and  plan 
for  ourselves  a course  of  action  through  life.  As  we  ap- 
proach old  age  we  see  more  plainly  that  we  are  simply  car- 
ried forward  by  a mighty  torrent,  borne  here  and  there  against 
our  will.  We  then  perceive  how  little  control  we  have  had 
in  reality  over  our  course;  that  our  actions,  resolves,  and 
endeavors,  which  seemed  to  give  such  a guiding  course  to 
our  life, 

“Are  but  eddies  of  the  mighty  stream 
That  rolls  to  its  appointed  end.” 

In  childhood  time  goes  by  on  laden  wings, — ten,  twenty 
years,  a life-time  seems  an  endless  period.  At  manhood  we 

185 


186 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


are  surprised  that  time  goes  so  rapidly;  we  then  comprehend 
the  fleeting  period  of  life.  In  old  age  the  years  that  are 
passed  seem  as  a dream  of  the  night,  our  life  as  a tale  nearly 
told.  Childhood  is  the  season  of  dreams  and  high  resolves; 
manhood,  of  plans  and  actions;  age,  of  retrospection  and 
regret. 

There  is  certainly  no  age  more  potential  for  good  or  evil 
than  that  of  early  manhood.  The  young  men  have,  with 
much  propriety,  been  denominated  the  flower  of  a country. 
To  be  a man  and  seem  to  be  one  or  two  different  things.  All 
young  men  should  carefully  consider  what  is  meant  by  man- 
hood. It  does  not  consist  in  years  simply,  nor  in  form  and 
figure.  It  lies  above  and  beyond  these  things.  It  is  the 
product  of  the  cultivation  of  every  power  of  the  soul,  and  of 
every  high  spiritual  quality  naturally  inherent  or  graciously 
supplemented.  It  should  be  the  great  object  of  living  to 
attain  this  true  manhood.  There  is  no  higher  pursuit  for 
the  youth  to  proprose  to  himself.  He  is  standing  at  the 
opening  gates  of  active  life.  There  he  catches  the  first 
glimpse  of  the  possibilities  in  store  for  him.  There  he  first 
perceives  the  duties  that  will  shortly  devolve  upon  him. 
What  higher  aim  can  he  propose  to  himself  than  to  act  his 
part  in  life  as  becomes  a man  who  lives  not  only  for  time 
but  for  eternity.^  How  earnestly  should  he  resolve  to  walk 
worthily  in  all  that  true  manhood  requires! 

There  are  certain  claims,  great  and  weighty,  resting  upon 
all  young  men  which  they  cannot  shake  off  if  they  would. 
They  grow  out  of  those  indissoluble  relations  which  they 
sustain  to  society,  and  those  invaluable  interests — social, 
civil,  and  religious — with  all  the  duties  and  responsibilities 
connected  with  them,  which  are  soon  to  be  transferred  to 
their  shoulders  from  the  venerable  fathers  who  have  borne 
the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day.  The  various  departments 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


187 


of  business  and  trust;  the  pulpit  and  the  bar,  our  courts  of 
justice  and  halls  of  legislation,  our  civil,  religious  and  liter- 
ary institutions,  all,  in  short,  that  constitute  society  and  go 
to  make  life  useful  and  happy,  are  to  be  in  their  hands  and 
under  their  control. 

Society,  in  commiting  to  the  young  her  interests  and  priv- 
ileges, imposes  upon  them  corresponding  claims,  and  de- 
mands that  they  be  prepared  to  fill  with  honor  and  usefub 
ness  the  places  which  they  are  destined  to  occupy.  Young 
men  cannot  take  a rational  view  of  the  station  to  which  they 
are  advancing,  or  of  the  duties  that  are  coming  upon  them, 
without  feeling  deeply  their  need  of  high  and  peculiar 
qualifications, 

Every  man  should  come  forward  in  life  with  a determina- 
tion to  do  all  the  good  he  can,  and  to  leave  the  world  the 
better  for  his  having  lived  in  it.  He  should  consider  that 
he  was  not  made  for  himself  alone,  but  for  society,  for  man- 
kind, and  for  God.  He  should  consider  that  he  is  a constit- 
uent, responsible  member  of  the  great  family  of  man,  and, 
while  he  should  pay  particular  attention  to  the  wants  and 
welfare  of  those  with  whom  he  is  immediately  connected,  he 
should  accustom  himself  to  send  his  thoughts  abroad  over 
the  wide  field  of  practical  benevolence. 

There  is  within  the  young  man  an  uprising  of  lofty  senti- 
ments which  contribute  to  his  elevation,  and  though  there 
are  obstacles  to  be  surmounted  and  difficulties  to  be  van- 
quished, yet  with  truth  for  his  watchword,  and  relying  on 
his  own  noble  purposes  and  exertions,  he  may  crown  his 
brow  with  imperishable  honors.  He  may  never  wear  the 
warrior^s  crimson  wreath,  the  poet's  chaplet  of  bays,  or  the 
statesman’s  laurels;  though  no  grand,  universal  truth  may  at 
his  bidding  stand  confessed  to  the  world;  though  it  may 
never  be  his  to  bring  to  a successful  issue  a great  political 


188 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


revolution;  to  be  the  founder  of  a republic  which  shall  be  a 
distinguished  star  in  the  constellation  of  nations;  even  more, 
though  his  name  may  never  be  heard  beyond  the  narrow 
limits  of  his  own  neighborhood,  yet  is  his  mission  none  the 
less  a high  and  noble  one. 

In  the  moral  and  physical  world  not  only  the  field  of  bat- 
tle but  also  the  cause  of  truth  and  virtue  calls  for  champions, 
and  the  field  for  doing  good  is  white^unto  the  harvest.  If  he 
enlists  in  the  ranks,  and  his  spirit  faint  not,  he  may  write  his 
name  among  the  stars  of  heaven.  Beautiful  lives  have  blos- 
somed in  the  darkest  places,  as  pure,  white  lilies,  full  of 
fragrance;  sometimes  bloom  on  the  slimy,  stagnant  waters. 
No  possession  is  so  productive  of  real  influence  as  a highly 
cultivated  intellect.  Wealth,  birth  and  official  station  may 
and  do  secure  an  external,  superficial  courtesy,  but  they 
never  did  and  never  secure  the  reverence  of  the  heart.  It 
is  only  to  the  man  of  large  and  noble  soul — to  him  who 
blends  a cultivated  mind  with  an  upright  heart — that  men 
yield  the  tribute  of  deep  and  genuine  respect.  A man  should 
never  glory  in  that  which  is  common  to  a beast;  nor  a wise 
man  in  that  which  is  common  to  a fool;  nor  a good  man  in 
that  which  is  common  to  a wicked  man. 

Since  it  is  in  the  intellect  that  we  trace  the  source  of  all 
that  is  great  and  noble  in  man  it  follows  that  if  any  are 
ambitious  to  possess  a true  manhood  they  will  be  men  of 
reflection,  men  whose  daily  acts  are  controlled  by  their  judg- 
ment, men  who  recognize  the  fact  that  life  is  a real  and 
earnest  affair,  that  time  is  fleeting,  and,  consequently,  resolve 
to  waste  none  of  it  in  frivolities;  men  whose  life  and  conver- 
sation are  indicative  of  that  serious  mien  and  deportment 
which  well  becomes  those  who  have  great  interests  commit- 
ted to  their  charge, and  who  are  determined  that  in  so  far  as 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


189 


in  them  lies  life  with  them  shall  be  a success,  who  fully 
realize  the  importance  of  every  step  they  may  take;  and  con- 
sequently; bring  to  it  the  careful  consideration  of  a mind 
trained  to  think  with  precision. 

The  man  who  thinks,  reads,  studies,  and  meditates  has 
intelligence  cut  in  his  features,  stamped  on  his  brow,  and 
gleaming  in  his  eye.  Thinking,  not  growth,  makes  perfect 
manhood.  There  are  some  who,  though  they  are  done  grow- 
ing, are  only  boys.  The  constitution  maybe  fixed  while 
the  judgment  is  immature;  the  limbs  may  be  strong  while 
the  reasoning  is  feeble.  Many  who  can  run  and  jump  and 
bear  any  fatigue  can  not  observe,  can  not  examine,  can  not 
reason  or  judge,  contrive  or  execute — they  do  not  think. 
Such  persons,  though  they  may  have  the  figure  of  a man  and 
the  years  of  a man,  are  not  in  possession  of  manhood;  they 
will  not  acquire  it  until  they  learn  to  look  beyond  the  pres- 
ent, and  take  broad  and  comprehensive  views  of  their  rela- 
tions to  society. 

The  strongest  men  are  those  who  join  gentleness,  self- 
control  and  sociability  with  vigor  and  power.  It  is  the  glory 
of  a man  that  he  is  strong  and  full  of  virility;  that  when  some 
crisis  in  life  comes  unexpectedly  all  his  latent  power  is  ready 
at  his  call  and  leaps  into  action  responsive  to  his  will;  these 
are  the  men  whom  their  fellows  instinctively  look  up  to  when 
society  is  threatened  with  dangers;  these  are  the  men  who 
bring  order  out  of  chaos,  and  whose  presence  is  always  a 
tower  of  strength  on  the  side  of  law  and  order;  the  qualities 
of  mind  and  heart  which  make  a man  respected,  honored 
and  loved,  are  not  stumbled  upon  by  chance;  they  are  won 
by  the  careful  cultivation  of  all  that  is  good,  and  a careful 
weeding  out  of  every  evil  impulse  and  every  vicious  habit. 
But  the  crowning  glory  of  man  is  strength  and  without  that 


190 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


he  falls  short  of  our  ideal  of  what  a man  ought  to  be.  It  is 
the  men  who  are  strong  in  body,  strong  in  will  and  upright 
in  character,  who  are  a force  for  good  in  every  community, 
and  are  looked  up  to  and  honored  by  all.  Such  men  are 
true  and  upright  in  their  business  relations  and  kind  loving 
and  thoughtful,  when  they  take  the  position  of  husbands 
and  fathers.  Women  love  them  and  look  to  them  for  sup- 
port and  protection  in  the  hour  of  danger;  for  where  is  the 
woman  who  does  not  feel  in  her  heart  that 

*‘The  bravest  are  the  tenderest; 

The  loving  are  the  daring.” 

And  a strong,  noble,  honest,  man  is  God's  best  legacy  to 
the  world. 

When  true  manhood  is  valued  as  it  should  be,  no  pains 
will  be  spared  to  attain  it.  We  need  more  of  the  spirit  that 
animated  the  Ancient  Spartans,  who  made  beauty  and  strength 
of  body  their  study,  and  held  that  the  citizen  belonged  to 
the  State.  Can  any  one  who  loves  his  country  or  his  fellow 
men  see  without  heartfelt  sorrow,  so  many  promising 
young  men,  who  started  in  the  race  of  life  with  every  pros- 
pect of  a useful  and  prosperous  career,  forced  to  retire  from 
the  struggle  ere  it  is  fairly  begun,  with  health  wrecked  and 
hopes  blasted.  There  are  hidden  rocks  lying  beneath  the 
surface  on  which  many  a ship  is  wrecked,  and  many  a fond 
mother  sees  the  noble  boy,  who  was  her  joy  and  pride  lose 
his  ambition,  his  fire,  force  and  vigor  of  character;  while  she 
can  only  dimly  guess  at  the  cause  and  is  helpless  to  avert 
his  doom.  Were  we  to  tell  the  public  of  facts  which  have 
come  to  us  in  our  capacity  of  instructor  and  healer,  they 
would  stand  aghast  at  our  disclosures;  we  know  that  the 
extent  of  the  devastation  wrought  by  a perversion  of  the 
functions  of  sex  is  simply  appalling.  Parents  if  you  love 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


191 


your  children  see  to  it  that  they  are  instructed  in  the  laws  of 
their  own  being,  and  warned  of  the  dangers  which  will  rob 
them  of  manhood  and  rob  society  of  a useful  citizen.  Now 
is  the  time,  for  a few  years  later  all  your  regrets  will  not 
avail  you  and  your  bitter  tears  will  be  shed  in  vain.  If  you 
have  a shadow  of  a suspicion  that  your  boy  has  been  tainted 
with  evil  habits  which  will  wreck  his  life,  Professor  Anderson 
will  gladly  show  you  the  way  to  reach  him  most  effect- 
ually, and  to  warn  him  in  such  a kindly  and  effective  way 
that  he  will  see  with  horror  the  brink  of  the  precipice  where 
he  is  standing,  and  you  will  save  him,  to  love  and  bless  you 
for  your  care. 

It  is  with  heartfelt  rejoicing  that  we  see  a growing  interest 
in  the  minds  of  our  people  in  this  subject.  Manhood  will 
not  much  longer  be  wasted  and  perverted  through  ignorance. 
The  choicest  treasure  of  a State  is  the  manhood  and  char- 
acter of  its  citizens,  and  to-day  the  laws  of  life  are  being 
studied  as  they  never  were  before.  Already  we  can  see  a 
new  race  springing  into  existence,  who  will  bring  with  them 
such  vigor,  such  power,  such  intelligence,  such  noble  man- 
hood that  the  golden  gates  of  the  future  will  swing  open  at 
their  touch,  and  joy  and  happiness  and  conscious  power  will 
be  the  common  possession  of  all  the  human  race;  then  no 
longer  will  life  be  filled  with  wrecks,  for  every  boy  will  be 
well  born,  and  provided  with  such  surroundings  that  the 
promise  of  his  boyhood  will  result  in  that  most  precious 
possession,  a true  and  noble  manhood. 

As  we  often  mistake  glittering  tinsel  for  solid  gold,  so  we 
often  mistake  specious  appearances  for  true  worth  and  man- 
hood. We  are  too  prone  to  take  professions  and  words  in 
lieu  of  actions;  too  easily  impressed  with  good  clothes  and 
polite  bearings  to  inquire  into  the  character  and  doings  of 


19? 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


the  individual.  Man  should  be  rated,  not  by  his  hoards  of 
gold,  not  by  the  simple  or  temporary  influence  he  may  for  a 
time  exert,  but  by  his  unexceptionable  principles  relative 
both  to  character  and  religion.  Strike  out  these  and  what 
is  he?  A savage  without  sympathy!  Take  them  away,  and 
his  manship  is  gone;  he  no  longer  lives  in  the  image  of  his 
Creator.  No  smile  gladdens  his  lips,  no  look  of  sympathy 
illumes  his  countenance  to  tell  of  love  and  charity  for  the 
woes  of  others. 

But  let  man  go  abroad  with  just  principles,  and  what  is  he? 
An  exhaustless  fountain  in  a vast  desert!  A glorious  sun, 
shining  ever,  dispelling  every  vestige  of  darkness.  There  is 
love  animating  his  heart,  sympathy  breathing  in  every  tone. 
Tears  of  pity — dew-drops  of  the  soul — gather  in  his  eye, 
and  gush  impetuously  down  his  cheek.  A good  man  is 
abroad,  and  the  world  knows  and  feels  it.  Beneath  his 
smile  lurks  no  degrading  passion;  within  his  heart  there 
slumbers  no  guile.  He  is  not  exalted  in  mortal  pride,  not 
elevated  in  his  own  views,  but  honest,  moral,  and  virtu 
ous  before  the  world.  He  stands  throned  on  truth;  his  for- 
tress is  wisdom,  and  his  dominion  is  the  vast  and  limitless 
universe.  Always  upright,  kind,  and  sympathizing;  always 
attached  to  just  principles,  and  actuated  by  the  same,  gov- 
erned by  the  highest  motives  in  doing  good;  these  constitute 
his  only  true  manliness. 

A proper  sense  of  modesty  is  a virtue  which  makes  real 
merit  more  charming,  because  seemingly  unconscious  of  ex- 
cellence. But  carried  to  an  excess  it  will  tend  to  dwarf  the 
powers,  cripple  the  energies  and  defeat  the  great  purposes  of 
life.  When  a man  is  well  qualified  to  do  a certain  thing, 
and  feels  that  he  can,  and  ought  to  do  it,  but  is  impelled  by 
modesty  to  shrink  back  into  obscurity  for  fear  of  bringing 


A Dream, 


Library 

L)F  jup 
^^IVErsuy 

0^  UINOIS 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


193 


himself  into  notice,  then  has  his  modesty  degenerated  into 
cowardice,  and  instead  of  consoling  himself  that  he  is  cher- 
ishing a great  virtue;  he  needs  the  lash  of  stern  rebuke  for 
his  lack  of  manliness.  Richard  Steele,  one  of  the  most 
charming  English  essayists,  says:  ‘‘I  have  noticed  that 

under  the  notion  of  modesty  men  have  indulged  themselves 
in  a spiritless  sheepishness,  and  been  forever  lost  to  them- 
selves, their  families,  their  friends  and  their  country,  I have 
said  often,  modesty  must  be  an  act  of  the  will,  and  yet  it 
always  implies  self-denial,  for  if  a man  has  a desire  to  do 
what  is  laudable  for  him  to  perform,  and  from  an  unmanly 
bashfulness  shrinks  away  and  lets  his  merit  languish  in 
silence,  he  ought  not  be  angry  with  the  world  that  a more 
unskillful  actor  succeeds  in  his  part,  because  he  has  not 
confidence  to’ come  upon  the  stage  himself.’’ 

A lawyer  who  started  in  life  a poor  young  man,  and  had 
risen  to  eminence,  said  that  he  owed  much  of  his  success  to 
the  advice  which  his  wife  gave  to  him  soon  after  they  were 
married.  She  said,  “John  never  make  an  excuse,”  and  he 
never  did.  If  he  was  called  upon  to  do  anything,  instead  of 
excusing  himself,  holding  back,  or  avoiding  it  altogether,  he 
did  it  promptly,  cheerfully,  and  to  the  best  of  his  ability, 

Such  men  are  valued,  and  often  succeed  beyond  others 
who  have  superior  qualifications,  because  of  their  readiness 
to  do  the  best  they  can,  while  those  who  make  excuses  are 
soon  dropped,  and  sink  into  the  oblivion  which  they  invite. 
A man  must  have  confidence  in  himself  if  he  would  be  worthy 
of  the  confidence  of  others. 

A young  man  goes  to  a new  home  among  strangers.  He 
is  invited  to  participate  in  literary  or  social  entertainments, 
or  to  identify  himself  with  the  church,  or  Sunday  school, 
where  a place  of  usefulness  awaits  him,  but  from  a feeling 


194 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


of  timidity,  or  distrust  of  his  powers,  he  holds  himself  aloof, 
and  turns  himself  away  from  the  opportunities  of  happiness 
and  advancement  which  are  offered.  Thus,  thousands  of 
deluded  people  have  barred  themselves  from  much  of  the 
highest  pleasures  and  service  of  life. 

If  this  spectre  of  false  modesty  has  confronted  you  with  a 
thousand  nameless  terrors,  turn  now,  resist  it,  and  call  the 
latent  .powers  of  manhood  to  your  aid  to  free  you  from  its 
enthrallment. 

Many  times  in  personal  encounters  have  men  been 
placed  in  desperate  situations  where  the  odds  have  been 
overwhelmingly  against  them,  and  where  it  would  seem 
there  was  not  the  remotest  chance  for  escape,  and  nothing 
left  for  them  but  to  give  up,  and  submit  in  the  utter  hope- 
lessness of  despair  to  their  fate.  Under  such  circumstances 
there  is  something  grand  and  sublime  when  the  unfortunate 
victim,  in  the  face  of  death,  instead  of  cowering  in  terror, 
and  letting  his  arms  fall  in  the  palsy  of  despair,  resolves  to 
sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible,  and  with  superhuman 
strength  which  is  born  of  his  strong  determination,  contests 
every  inch  of  his  ground  with  as  much  persistency  and 
enthusiasm  as  if  he  were  assured  of  victory. 

The  hero  in  such  a conflict  simply  makes  the  most  of  him- 
self,— realizing  that  he  has  but  one  life,  he  resolves  not  to 
throw  it  away,  but  to  make  it  cost  his  assailants  as  dearly  as 
possible. 

In  the  conflict  of  life,  when  struggling  with  trials  and  mis- 
fortunes, and  at  times  well  nigh  overwhelmed,  let  us  also 
call  to  our  aid  the  same  indomitable  heroism.  We  have  but 
one  life  to  live;  a few  short  years  are  all  that  is  alloted  us  in 
which  to  show  of  what  stuff  we  are  made,  and  how  we  shall 
acquit  ourselves;  and  then  the  opportunity  for  glorious, 


on,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


195 


heroic  action  is  over  forever,  the  harvest  time  will  have 
ended,  and  the  night  will  have  come  when  no  man  can  work. 

The  man  who  has  resolved  to  make  the  most  of  himself 
will  strive  to  develop  to  the  utmost  all  his  faculties  and  im- 
prove all  opportunities  for  honorable  advancement.  No 
matter  if  he  is  not  gifted  with  genius, — no  matter  if  he  is 
even  below  the  standard  of  mediocrity,  he  will  be  lifted  up 
into  the  bracing  atmosphere  of  earnestness  and  aroused  to  a 
life  of  activity  and  devotion  to  duty. 

The  great  educator  and  noble  man.  Dr.  Arnold  of  Rugby, 
said:  “If  there  be  one  thing  on  earth  which  is  truly  admir- 
able, it  is  to  see  God’s  wisdom  blessing  an  inferiority  of 
natural  powers,  when  they  have  been  honestly,  truly  and 
zealously  cultivated.”  Thousands  of  men  who  are  active  in 
every  good  work  and  are  the  props  on  which  the  dearest  in- 
terests of  our  social  order  rest,  answer  to  this  description, 
and  yet  they  are  common-place  men  of  ordinary  intellect 
and  in  early  life  were  very  unpromising.  The  hardest  and 
best  work  of  the  world  is  done  by  men  who  have  had  little 
to  help  them,  except  the  high  resolve  that  they  would  make 
the  most  of  themselves  and  because  of  this  resolve,  and 
guided  by  sincere  convictions  of  duty,  they  have  outstripped 
and  left  far  behind  in  the  race  of  life,  many  gifted  by  genius, 
favored  by  fortune,  blessed  with  friends  and  surrounded  by 
powerful  social  influences. 

The  want  of  practical  talent  in  men  of  fine  intellectual 
powers  has  often  excited  the  wonder  of  the  crowd.  They 
are  astonished  that  a man  of  such  power  of  thought  should 
be  unable  to  manage  his  own  affairs  with  dexterity.  But 
this  is  not  strange.  Deep  thinking  and  practical  talents 
require  habits  of  mind  almost  entirely  dissimilar  A man 
who  sees  clearly  within  certain  limits,  is  more  sure  of  his 


196 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


facts,  and  is  more  direct  and  positive  in  coming  to  conclu- 
sions than  the  man  within  a wide  horizon  of  thought,  who 
has  a many  sided  capacity  of  dealing  with  great  subjects. 
It  is  energy  and  self  possession  that  gives  a man  those 
practical  qualities  which  win  success,  mere  intellectual 
ability  without  force  of  character  counts  for  little.  Men  of 
genius  are  too  apt  to  waste  time  in  meditating  and  compar- 
ing, when  action  is  called  for.  They  who  can  act  with  force 
and  vigor  when  the  hour  for  action  is  at  hand  hold  the  key 
that  will  open  every  door  and  insure  success  in  life. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


TRUE  WOMP^NHOOD 


Heed  not  the  man  who  would  attempt  to  govern  or  limit 
your  thoughts  or  acts.  Every  soul  must  do  its  own  work  and 
be  a judge  unto  itself  concerning  itself.’* 

Jj  T should  be  the  highest  ambition  of  every  young  woman 
fH  to  possess  a true  womanhood.  Earth  presents  no 

^ higher  object  of  attainment.  To  be  a woman  is  the 
truest  and  best  thing  beneath  the  skies.  A true  woman 
exists  independent  of  outward  adornments.  It  is  not  wealth, 
or  beauty  of  person,  or  connection,  or  station,  or  power  of 
mind,  or  literary  attainments,  or  variety  and  richness  of  out- 
ward accomplishments,  that  make  the  woman.  These  often 
adorn  womanhood;  as  the  ivy  adorns  the  oak,  but  they  should 
never  be  mistaken  for  the  thing  they  adorn. 

The  great  error  of  womankind  is  that  they  take  the  shadow 
for  the  substance,  the  glitter  for  the  gold,  the  heraldry  and 
trappings  of  the  world  for  the  priceless  essence  of  womanly 
worth  which  exists  within  the  mind.  Every  young  man,  as  a 
general  rule,  has  some  purpose  laid  down  for  the  grand  object 
of  his  life — some  plan,  for  the  accomplishment  of  which  all  his 
other  actions  are  made  to  serve  as  auxiliaries.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  every  young  woman  does  not  also  have  a set 
purpose  of  life — some  grand  aim,  grand  in  its  character. 
She  should,  in  the  first  place,  know  what  she  is,  what  power 

197 


198 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


she  possesses,  what  influences  are  to  go  out  from  her,  what 
position  in  life  she  was  designed  to  fill,  what  duties  are  rest- 
ing upon  her,  what  she  is  capable  of  being,  what  fields  of 
profit  and  pleasure  are  open  to  her,  how  much  joy  and  plea- 
sure she  may  find  in  a true  life  of  womanly  activity. 

When  she  has  duly  considered  these  things,  she  shoula 
then  form  the  high  purpose  of  being  a true  woman,  and 
make  every  circumstance  bend  to  her  will  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  noble  purpose.  There  can  be  no  higher 
aim  to  set  before  herself.  There  is  no  nobler  attainment 
this  side  of  the  spiritland  than  lofty  womanhood.  There  is 
no  ambition  more  pure  than  that  which  craves  this  crown 
for  her  mortal  brow.  To  be  a genuine  woman,  full  of  wom- 
anly instincts  and  power,  forming  the  intuitive  genius  of 
her  penetrative  soul,  the  subduing  authority  of  her  gentle 
yet  resolute  will,  is  to  be  a peer  of  earth’s  highest  intelli- 
gence, All  young  women  have  this  noble  prize  before  them. 
They  may  all  put  on  the  glorious  crown  of  womanhood. 
They  may  make  their  lives  grand  in  womanly  virtues, 

A true  woman  has  a power,  something  peculiarly  her  own, 
in  her  moral  influence,  which,  when  duly  developed,  makes 
her  queen  over  a wide  realm  of  spirit.  But  this  she  can 
possess  only  as  her  powers  are  cultivated.  It  is  cultivated 
women  that  wield  the  scepter  of  authority  among  men. 
Wherever  cultivated  woman  dwells,  there  is  refinement,  in- 
tellect, moral  power,  life  in  its  highest  form.  To  be  a culti- 
vated woman  she  must  commence  early,  and  make  this  the 
grand  aim  of  her  life.  Whether  she  work  or  play,  travel  or 
remain  at  home,  converse  with  friends  or  study  books,  gaze 
at  flowers  or  toil  in  the  kitchen,  visit  the  pleasure  party  or 
the  sanctuary  of  God,  she  keeps  this  object  before  her  mind, 
and  taxes  all  her  powers  for  its  attainment. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


199 


Every  young  woman  should  also  determine  to  do  some- 
thing for  the  honor  and  elevation  of  her  sex.  Her  powers  of 
mind  and  body  should  be  applied  to  a good  end  Let  her 
resolve  to  help  with  the  weight  of  her  encouragement  and 
counsel  her  sisters  who  are  striving  nobly  to  be  useful,  to 
remove  as  far  as  possible  the  obstacles  in  their  way.  Let 
her  call  to  her  aid  all  the  forces  of  character  she  can  com- 
mand to  enable  her  to  persist  in  being  a woman  of  the  true 
stamp.  In  every  class  of  society  the  young  women  should 
awaken  to  their  duty.  They  have  a great  work  to  do.  It  is 
not  enough  that  they  should  be  what  their  mothers  were — 
they  must  be  more.  The  spirit  of  the  times  calls  on  women 
for  a higher  order  of  character  and  life.  Will  they  heed  the 
call?  Will  they  emancipate  themselves  from  the  fetters  of 
custom  and  fashion,  and  come  up,  a glorious  company,  to 
the  possession  of  a vigorous,  virtuous,  noble  womanhood, 
that  shall  shed  new  light  upon  the  world  and  point  the  way 
to  a divine  life  ? 

The  time  has  come  for  woman  to  assert  her  individuality 
and  her  equality  with  man;  women  are  in  no  respect  more 
dependent  on  men,  than  men  are  on  women,  and  the  curse 
of  the  human  race  has  been  her  financial  dependence  in  the 
past.  But  the  hope  of  humanity  lies  with  women,  for  she 
must  give  character  and  power  to  a new  race  of  men,  before 
the  old  world  can  be  lifted  up  to  higher  levels.  There  is  no 
need  for  any  unwomanly  assumption  of  the  masculine  tone 
and  manner,  in  order  that  woman  may  exercise  the  full 
measure  of  her  womanly  power;  she  can  work  with  far 
greater  effect  while  retaining  every  grace  and  charm  that 
belongs  of  right  to  her  sex,  while  spurning  with  quiet  scorn 
that  sham  deference  and  mock  chivalry  which  would  pay  all 
respect  and  homage  to  a woman  of  position  and  social 


200 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


standing  and  treat  with  contempt  and  indignity  the  poor 
victim  of  man  s cruelty  and  lust.  The  woman  of  the  new 
era  will  achieve  her  financial  independence  and  will  then 
realize  the  full  measure  of  her  power,  for  without  it  her  life 
would  be  nothing  but  a barren  desert  All  the  choicest  gifts 
of  life,  she  has  it  in  her  power  to  bestow;  and  when  she  has 
forever  freed  herself  from  the  traditions  of  the  past  and 
stands  side  by  side  with  man,  his  equal,  yet  always  unlike, 
mistress  of  herself  and  with  power  to  choose  her  own  path  in 
life  then  she  will  be  in  her  true  position,  and  when  she  con- 
sents to  devote  the  most  precious  years  of  her  life  to  the 
sacred  duties  of  motherhood,  it  will  be  under  conditions 
which  will  give  a new  race  to  the  world.  Every  child 
born  of  mutual  love  and  conscious  power,  and  knowledge, 
will  be  a force  working  for  the  redemption  of  the  world,  from 
the  prevailing  sin,  misery  and  selfishness. 

We  find  on  looking  over  the  history  of  the  past  that  every 
man  who  has  left  his  mark  on  his  own  generation,  owed 
much  of  his  success  to  the  fact  that  his  mother  was  a woman 
of  fine  physical  powers.  Too  many  of  our  women  are  chronic 
invalids,  whose  lives  are  clouded  by  their  nervous  state.  So 
that  life  is  a burden  to  themselves  and  a source  of  unhap- 
piness to  those  around  them.  Before  women  can  hope  to 
make  her  power  felt  she  must  understand  and  practice  the 
laws  of  health;  she  must  feel  vitality  and  energy  in  every 
fibre  of  her  being  and  they  will  flow  out  to  everyone  with 
whom  she  comes  in  contact.  Those  who  are  struggling 
against  some  of  the  complaints  peculiar  to  their  sex,  striving 
to  perform  their  daily  duties  yet  unable  to  do  so  and  feeling 
a sense  of  growing  weakness  day  by  day,  are  invited  to  con- 
sult Professor  Anderson  in  confidence  and  they  may  feel 
assured  that  his  wide  experience  and  his  desire  to  do  good 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


201 


will  enable  him  to  do  more  for  them  than  all  the  drugs  they 
can  take:  Our  methods  are  so  natural,  so  reasonable,  so 

painless,  that  the  most  delicate  and  sensitive  women  are  in- 
stinctively inspired  with  confidence,  and  to  many  a weak  and 
nervous  woman,  we  have  been  able  to  point  out  the  way  to 
health. 

When  women  fill  the  place  in  society  for  which  nature 
designed  them  they  exercise  a power  and  influence  of  which 
they  are  only  dimly  conscious  now,  the  power  she  wields  in 
the  world  of  thought  is  almost  boundless.  Statesmen  have 
been  swayed  by  her  social  influence  and  warriors  have  yielded 
to  her  charms.  The  destinies  of  nations  have  often  been 
determined  by  the  influence  of  a charming  magnetic  woman 
over  the  man  who  held  the  sceptre  of  power.  Napoleon  I, 
in  the  height  of  his  power,  testified  that  he  feared  the  pen 
and  tongue  of  the  brilliant  and  charming  Madam  De  Stael 
more  than  the  batallions  of  the  enemy.  Lola  Montez,  by 
the  indescribable  power  of  her  magnetism,  brought  the 
noblest  and  the  bravest  men  captives  to  her  feet. 

When  women  enters  earnestly  into  the  work  of  reform,  she 
will  usher  in  a Grolden  Age  for  Humanity  and  she  is  already 
fast  becoming  aware  of  her  powers  and  beginning  to  bring 
them  into  use.  A woman  who  develops  her  powers  of  Per- 
sonal Magnetism  to  their  fullest  extent,  and  knows  how  to 
use  that  grace  and  charm  of  manner  which  invariably  ac 
companies  such  development,  is  an  almost  irresistible  force 
in  any  movement  which  she  champions.  We  know  that 
women  are  deeply  interested  in  the  study  of  Personal  Mag- 
netism, and  many  are  using  it  to  draw  more  closely  to  them 
those  of  their  own  home  circle,  to  guide  and  influence  their 
children  and  to  bring  harmony  where  too  often  dis- 
cord reigns,  for  woman's  true  kingdom  must  ever  be  the 


202 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


home  circle,  where  new  lives  are  brought  into  being,  and 
shaped  and  moulded  by  her  influence. 

Woman’s  influence  is  the  chief  anchor  of  society,  and  this 
influence  is  purifying  the  world,  and  the  work  she  has 
already  accomplished  will  last  forever.  No  costly  marble 
can  build  a more  enduring  monument  to  her  memory  than 
the  impress  she  makes  on  her  own  household.  The  chang- 
ing scenes  of  life  may  hurl  the  genius  of  man  from  eminence 
to  utter  ruin;  for  his  life  hangs  on  the  fabric  of  public  opin- 
ion, but  the  honest  form  of  a true  mother  reigns  queen  in 
the  hearts  of  her  children  forever. 

Man’s  admirers  may  be  greater,  but  woman  holds  her 
kindred  by  a silken  cord  of  familiar  kindness,  strengthened 
and  extended  by  each  little  courtesy  of  a lifetime.  Man 
may  make  his  monument  of  granite  or  of  marble,  woman 
hers  of  immortality,  Man  may  enjoy  here,  she  will  enjoy 
hereafter.  Man  may  move  the  rough  crowd  by  his  eloquence, 
woman  will  turn  his  coarseness  into  a cheerful  life,  Man 
may  make  laws  and  control  legislatures,  woman  will 
mold  their  minds  in  the  schoolroom  and  be  the  author  of 
their  grandest  achievements.  Cruelty  she  despises  and  it 
lessens  at  her  bidding;  purity  she  admires,  and  it  grows  in 
her  presence;  music  she  loves,  and  her  home  is  full  of  its 
melody;  happiness  is  her  herald,  and  she  infuses  a world 
with  a desire  for  enjoyment.  Without  her,  cabins  would  be 
fit  for  dwellings,  furs  fit  for  clothing,  and  all  the  arts  and 
improvements  would  be  wanting  in  stimulus  and  ambition; 
for  the  world  is  moved  and  civilization  is  advanced  by  the 
silent  influence  of  woman. 

This  influence  is  due  not  exclusively  to  the  fascination  of 
her  charms,  but  to  the  strength,  uniformity,  and  consistency 
or  her  virtues,  maintained  under  so  many  sacrifices  and  with 
so  much  fortitude  and  heroism.  Without  these  endowments 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


203 


and  qualifications,  external  attractions  are  nothing;  but  with 
them,  their  power  is  irresistible.  Beauty  and  virtue  are  the 
crowding  attributes  bestowed  by  nature  upon  woman,  and 
the  bounty  of  Heaven  more  than  compensates  for  the  injus- 
tice of  man.  The  possession  of  these  advantages  secures  to 
her  universally  that  degree  of  homage  and  consideration 
which  renders  her  independent  of  the  effect  of  unequal  and 
arbitrary  laws.  But  it  is  not  the  incense  of  idol-worship 
which  is  most  acceptable  to  the  heart  of  woman;  it  is  the 
courtesy,  and  just  appreciation  of  her  proper  position,  merit, 
and  character.  Woman  surpasses  man  in  the  quickness  of 
her  perception  in  the  right  direction  of  her  sympathies;  and 
thus  it  is  justly  due  to  her  praise  that  the  credit  of  her 
acknowledged  ascendency  is  personal  amidst  the  increasing 
degeneracy  of  man. 

Woman  is  the  conservator  of  morality  and  religion.  Her 
moral  worth  holds  man  in  some  restraint  and  preserves  his 
ways  from  becoming  inhumanly  corrupt.  Mighty  is  the 
power  of  woman  in  this  respect.  Every  virtue  in  woman 
has  its  influence  on  the  world.  A brother,  husband,  friend, 
or  son  is  touched  by  its  sunshine.  Its  mild  beneficence  is 
not  lost.  A virtuous  woman  in  the  seclusion  of  her  home, 
breathing  the  sweet  influence  of  virtue  into  the  hearts  and 
lives  of  its  beloved  ones,  is  an  evangel  of  goodness  to  the 
world.  She  is  a pillar  of  the  external  kingdom  of  right. 
She  is  a star,  shining  in  the  moral  firmament.  She  is  a 
priestess,  administering  at  the  fountain  of  life  Every 
prayer  she  breaths  is  answered,  in  a greater  or  less  degree 
in  the  hearts  and  lives  of  those  she  loves.  Her  heart  is  an 
altar-fire,  where  religion  acquires  strength  to  go  out  on  its 
mission  of  mercy. 

We  cannot  overestimate  the  strength  and  power  of  wom- 
an’s moral  and  religious  character.  The  world  would  go 


204 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


to  ruin  without  her.  With  all  our  ministers  and  Churches, 
and  Bibles  and  sermons,  man  would  be  a prodigal  without 
the  restraint  of  woman’s  virtue  and  the  consecration  of  her 
religion.  Woman  first  lays  her  hand  on  our  young  faces; 
she  plants  the  first  seeds;  she  makes  the  first  impressions; 
and  all  along  through  life  she  scatters  the  good  seeds  of  her 
kindness,  and  sprinkles  them  with  the  dews  of  her  piety. 

A woman  of  true  intelligence  is  a blessing  at  home,  in  her 
circle  of  friends  and  in  society.  Wherever  she  goes  she 
carries  with  her  a health-giving  influence.  There  is  a 
beautiful  harmony  about  her  character  that  at  once  inspires 
a respect  which  soon  warms  into  love.  The  influence  of 
such  a woman  upon  society  is  of  the  most  salutary  kind. 
She  strengthens  right  principles  in  the  virtuous,  incites  the 
selfish  and  indifferent  to  good  actions,  and  gives  to  the  light 
and  frivolous  a taste  after  something  more  substantial  than 
the  frothy  gossip  with  which  they  seek  to  recreate  themselves. 

Many  a woman  does  the  work  of  her  life  without  being 
noticed  or  seen  by  the  world.  The  world  sees  a family 
reared  to  virtue,  one  child  after  another  growing  into  Chris- 
tian manhood  or  womanhood  and  at  last  it  sees  them  gath- 
ered around  the  grave  where  the  mother  that  bore  them  rests 
from  her  labors.  But  the  world  has  never  seen  the  quiet 
woman  laboring  for  her  children,  making  their  clothes,  pro- 
viding them  food,  teaching  them  their  prayers  and  making 
their  homes  comfortable  and  happy. 

A woman’s  happiness  flows  to  her  from  sources  and  through 
channels  different  from  those  that  give  origin  and  conduct  to 
the  happiness  of  man  and  in  a measure  will  continue  to  do 
so  forever.  Her  faculties  bend  their  exercise  toward  differ- 
ent issues,  her  social  and  spiritual  notions  demand  a differ- 
ent aliment.  Her  powers  are  eminently  practical.  She  has 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


205 


a rich  store  of  practical  good  sense,  an  ample  fund  of  tact, 
shrewdness,  inventiveness,  and  management.  It  is  her  work 
to  form  the  young  mind,  to  give  it  direction  and  instruction, 
to  develop  its  love  for  the  good  and  true.  It  is  her  work  to 
make  home  happy,  to  nourish  all  the  virtues,  and  instill  all 
the  sweetness  which  builds  men  up  into  good  citizens.  She 
is  the  consoler  of  the  world,  attending  it  in  sickness,  her 
society  soothes  the  world  after  its  toils,  and  rewards  it  for  its 
perplexities.  She  receives  the  infant  when  it  enters  upon 
its  existence,  and  drape  the  cold  form  of  the  aged  when  life 
is  passed.  She  assuage  the  sorrows  of  childhood,  and  min- 
isters to  the  poor  and  distressed. 

Loveliness  of  spirit  is  woman's  scepter  and  sword;  for  it  is 
both  the  emblem  and  the  instrument  of  her  conquest.  Her 
influence  flows  from  her  sensibilities,  her  gentleness,  and  her 
tenderness.  It  is  this  which  disarms  prejudice,  and  awakens 
confidence  and  affection  in  all  who  come  within  her  sphere, 
which  makes  her  more  powerful  to  accomplish  what  her  will 
has  resolved  than  if  nature  had  endowed  her  with  the  strength 
of  a giant.  As  a wife  and  mother,  woman  is  seen  in  her 
most  sacred  and  dignified  aspect.  She  has  great  influence 
over  the  characters  of  individuals,  over  the  condition  of  fam- 
ilies, and  over  the  destinies  of  empires. 

How  transitory  are  the  days  of  girlhood!  The  time  when 
the  cheerful  smile,  the  merry  laugh,  and  the  exulting  voice 
were  so  many  expressions  of  happiness, — how  quickly  it 
passed!  How  times  has  multiplied  its  scores,  and  accumu- 
lated its  unwelcome  effects  against  the  charms  and  attractions 
of  youth!  But  if  the  heart  be  chilled,  if  the  cheek  be  more 
pale,  and  the  eye  less  bright;  if  the  outward  adornment  of 
the  temple  of  love  have  become  faded  and  dimmed,  there 
may  be  yet  inwardly  preserved  the  shrine  where  is  laid  up 


206 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


the  sacred  treasures  of  loveliness  and  purity,  gentleness  and 
grace,  the  attempered  qualities  of  tried  and  perfected  virtues; 
as  if  the  blossoms  of  early  childhood  had  ripened  into  the 
mellow  and  precious  fruits  of  autumnal  time. 

But  in  another  and  better  sense  a good  woman  never  grows 
old.  Years  may  pass  over  her  head,  but  if  benevolence  and 
virtue  dwell  in  her  heart  she  is  as  cheerful  as  when  the  spring 
of  life  first  opened  to  her  view.  When  we  look  at  a good 
woman  we  never  think  of  her  age;  she  looks  as  happy  as 
when  the  rose  first  bloomed  on  her  cheek.  In  her  neighbor- 
hood she  is  a friend  and  benefactor;  in  the  Church,  the 
devout  worshiper  and  exemplary  Christian.  Who  does  not 
love  and  respect  the  woman  who  has  spent  her  days  in  acts 
of  kindness  and  mercy,  who  has  been  the  friend  of  sorrowing 
ones,  whose  life  has  been  a scene  of  kindness  and  love 
devoted  to  truth  and  religion.  Such  a woman  cannot  grow 
old;  she  will  always  be  fresh  and  beautiful  in  her  spirits  and 
active  in  her  humble  deeds  of  mercy  and  benevolence. 

If  the  young  lady  desires  to  retain  the  bloom  and  beauty 
of  youth,  let  her  not  yield  to  the  way  of  fashion  and  folly;  let 
her  love  truth  and  virtue;  and  to  the  close  of  her  life  will  she 
retain  those  feelings  which  now  make  life  appear  a garden  of 
sweets  ever  fresh  and  green. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


AIM  OF  LIFE 


“God  always  reaches  down  to  all  who  reach  u]|) 
to  Him,  provided  their  motives  are  right.” 

!T  is  the  aim  that  makes  the  man,  and  without  this  he  is 
nothing  as  far  as  the  utter  destitution  of  force,  weight, 
^ and  even  individuality  among  men  can  reduce  him  to 
nonentity.  The  strong  gusts  and  currents  of  the  world  sweep 
him  this  way  and  that,  without  steam  or  sail  to  impel,  or 
helm  to  guide  him.  If  he  be  not  speedily  wrecked  or  run 
aground,  it  is  more  his  good  fortune  than  good  management. 
We  have  never  heard  a more  touching  confession  of  utter 
weakness  and  misery  than  these  words  from  one  singularly 
blessed  with  the  endowments  of  nature  and  of  Providence: 
“My  life  is  aimless.” 

Take  heed,  young  man,  of  an  aimless  life.  Take  heed, 
too,  of  a low  and  sordid  aim.  A well-ascertained  and  gen- 
erous purpose  gives  vigor,  direction,  and  perseverance  to  all 
man’s  efforts.  Its  concomitants  are  well-disciplined  intel- 
lect, character,  influence,  tranquility,  and  cheerfulness  with- 
in— success  and  honor  without.  Whatever  a man’s  talents 
and  advantages  may  be,  with  no  aim,  or  a low  one,  he  is 
weak  and  despicable;  and  he  cannot  be  otherwise  than 
respectable  and  influential  with  a high  one.  Without  some 

207 


208 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


definite  object  before  us,  some  standard  which  we  are  ear- 
nestly striving  to  reach,  we  cannot  expect  to  attain  to  any 
great  height,  either  mentally  or  morally.  Placing  for  our- 
selves high  standards,  and  wishing  to  reach  them  without 
any  further  effort  on  our  part,  is  not  enough  to  elevate  us  in 
any  very  great  degree. 

Some  one  has  said,  “Nature  holds  for  each  of  us  all  that 
we  need  to  make  us  useful  and  happy;  but  she  requires  us 
to  labor  for  all  that  we  get.’’  God  gives  nothing  of  value 
unto  man  unmatched  by  need  of  labor;  and  we  can  expect 
to  overcome  difficulties  only  by  strong  and  determined 
efforts.  Here  is  a great  and  noble  work  lying  just  before  us, 
just  as  the  blue  ocean  lies  out  beyond  the  rocks  which  line 
the  shore.  In  our  strivings  for  “something  better  than  we 
know”  we  should  work  for  others’  good  rather  than  our  own 
pleasure.  Those  whose  object  in  life  is  their  own  happiness 
find  at  last  that  their  lives  are  sad  failures. 

While  the  effect  of  the  study  of  Personal  Magnetism  is  to 
refine  and  spiritualize  all  the  thoughts  as  well  as  the  life,  it 
does  not  tend  to  make  the  student  unfit  in  any  way  for  the 
common  everyday  duties  of  life;  on  the  contrary  it  renders 
him  more  practical  and  in  every  way  better  fitted  to  succeed 
in  any  business.  There  is  no  element  of  success  in  business 
more  necessary  than  ability  to  read  character  quickly  and 
correctly,  and  this  faculty  of  intuition  is  developed  by  our 
course  in  Personal  Magnetism  in  a high  degree.  Under  the 
influence  of  our  teachings  the  student  finds  that  his  mental 
power  is  increased,  and  he  can  grasp  a situation  more  quickly 
and  almost  instantly  decide  what  action  is  necessary  to  take. 
The  ability  to  read  character  correctly  at  a glance  is  a most 
valuable  acquirement,  and  we  spare  no  pains  to  give  the 
necessary  knowledge  to  those  who  put  themselves  under 


The  Secret. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


209 


our  instructions.  What  Aim  in  Life  can  be  more  ennobling 
and  inspiring  than  a determination  to  develop  to  the  greatest 
extent  every  faculty  of  mind  and  body;  to  call  out  the  hidden 
powers  of  the  soul,  and  to  use  those  powers  to  make  life 
happier  for  one’s  fellow  men.  When  the  latent  powers  of 
man  are  called  into  action  all  barriers  are  easily  overcome, 
and  while  worldly  power  and  wealth  are  within  his  grasp; 
the  man  who  has  trodden  the  paths  which  make  him  a 
master  of  the  art  of  using  Personal  Magnetism,  knows  that 
there  are  surer  and  more  lasting  sources  of  happiness  than 
wealth  and  worldly  power.  Some  definite  aim  a man  must 
have  in  order  to  achieve  success  of  any  kind;  that  alone  can 
make  a man  a positive  force  in  life,  and  they  only  live  truly 
who  put  their  heart  into  their  work  and  do  with  intensity 
and  earnestness  the  work  to  which  they  turn  their  attention; 
whether  that  work  is  painting  a picture,  or  writing  a book, 
or  making  a dress,  or  building  a locomotive,  the  old  adage 
that  it  is  “worth  while  to  do  well  what  is  worth  doing  at  all” 
will  be  found  to  be  good  advice. 

The  student  in  Personal  Magnetism  is  taught  to  expect 
success  and  how  to  achieve  it,  but  above  and  beyond  that 
success  which  brings  with  it  all  of  the  power  which  wealth 
can  give,  he  learns  to  value  those  sources  of  happiness 
which  are  far  more  important.  Any  Aim  in  Life  which 
would  lead  no  higher  than  business  success  is  in  its  nature 
defective,  and  will  only  result  in  a very  one  sided  and  tran- 
sient happiness.  The  highest  happiness  of  life  must  ever 
be  found  in  one’s  own  character  and  the  power  to  enjoy 
which  comes  with  perfect  health  and  a well  developed 
mind.  The  man  who  has  made  business  his  one  Aim  in 
Life  has  no  other  resource,  and  when  his  failing  powers 
oblige  him  to  give  that  up  he  is  ready  for  his  grave.  How 


210 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


different  is  the  ending  of  life  for  him  who  has  found  his 
chief  enjoyment  in  making  others  happy;  who  has  cultivated 
his  social  and  spiritual  faculties;  who  has  developed  his  own 
powers  by  the  study  of  magnetism,  and  has  learned  to  rise 
superior  to  disease  and  advancing  age.  Friends  and  kindred 
surround  him  and  take  pleasure  in  adding  to  his  enjoyment, 
and  his  pleasure  in  living  is  as  keen  as  in  the  days  of  his 
youth,  for  life  has  refined  and  ennobled  him,  and  prepared 
him  in  every  way  for  the  higher  Spiritual  life  which  awaits 
us  all. 

We  need  to  do  something  each  day  that  shall  help  us  to  a 
larger  life  of  soul;  and  every  word  or  deed  which  brings  joy 
or  gladness  to  other  hearts  lifts  us  to  a perfect  life;  for  a 
noble  deed  is  a step  toward  God.  To  live  for  something 
worthy  of  life  involves  the  necessity  of  an  intelligent  and 
definite  plan  of  action.  More  than  splendid  dreamings  or 
magnificent  resolves  is  necessary  to  success  in  the  objects 
and  ambitions  of  life.  Men  come  to  the'  best  results  in 
every  department  of  effort  only  as  they  thoughtfully  plan 
and  earnestly  toil  in  given  directions.  Purposes  without 
work  is  dead.  It  were  vain  to  hope  for  good  results  from 
mere  plans.  Random  or  spasmodic  efforts,  like  aimless 
shoots,  are  generally  no  better  than  wasted  time  or  strength. 
The  purposes  of  shrewed  men  in  the  business  of  this  life  are 
always  followed  by  careful  plans,  enforced  by  work.  Whether 
the  object  is  learning,  honor,  or  wealth,  the  ways  and  means 
are  always  laid  out  according  to  the  best  rules  and  methods. 
The  mariner  has  his  chart,  the  architect  his  plans,  the  sculp- 
tor his  model,  and  all  as  a means  and  condition  of  success. 
Inventive  genius,  or  even  what  is  called  inspiration,  can  do 
little  in  any  department  of  the  theoretic  or  practical  science 
except  as  it  works  by  a well-formed  plan;  then  every  step  is 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


211 


an  advance  towards  the  accomplishment  of  its  object.  Every 
tack  of  the  ship  made  in  accordance  with  nautical  law 
keeps  her  steadily  nearing  the  port.  Each  stroke  of  the 
chisel  brings  the  marble  into  a clearer  likeness  to  the  model. 
No  effort  or  time  is  lost,  for  nothing  is  done  rashly  or  at 
random. 

Thus,  in  the  grand  Aim  of  Life,  if  some  worthy  purpose 
be  kept  constantly  in  view,  and  for  its  accomplishment  every 
effort  be  made  every  day  of  your  life,  you  will,  unconsciously, 
perhaps,  approach  the  goal  of  your  ambition.  There  can  be 
no  question  among  the  philosophic  observers  of  men  and 
events  that  fixedness  of  purpose  is  a grand  element  of  human 
success.  When  a man  has  formed  in  his  mind  a great  sover- 
eign purpose,  it  governs  his  conduct  as  the  laws  of  nature 
govern  the  operation  of  physical  things 

Every  one  should  have  a mark  in  view,  and  pursue  it 
steadily.  He  should  not  be  turned  from  his  course  by  other 
objects  ever  so  attractive.  Life  is  not  long  enough  for  any 
one  man  to  accomplish  everything.  Indeed,  but  few  can  at 
best  accomplish  more  than  one  thing  well.  Many — alas!  very 
many — accomplish  nothing.  Yet  there  is  not  a man,  endowed 
with  ordinary  intellect  or  accomplishments,  but  can  accom- 
plish  at  least  one  useful,  important,  worthy  purpose.  It  was 
not  without  reason  that  some  of  the  greatest  of  men  were 
trained  from  their  youth  to  choose  some  definite  object  in 
life,  to  which  they  were  required  to  direct  their  thoughts  and 
to  devote  all  their  energies  It  became,  therefore,  a sole  and 
ruling  purpose  of  their  hearts,  and  was  almost  certainly  the 
means  of  their  future  advancement  and  happiness  in  the  world. 

Of  the  thousands  of  men  who  are  annually  coming  upon 
the  stage  of  life  there  are  few  who  escape  the  necessity  of 
adopting  some  profession  or  calling;  and  there  are  fewer  still 
who,  if  they  knew  the  miseries  of  idleness — tenfold  keener 


212 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


and  more  numerous  than  those  of  the  most  laborious  profes- 
sion— would  ever  desire  such  an  escape.  First  of  all,  a 
choice  of  business  or  occupation  should  be  made,  and  made 
early,  with  a wise  reference  to  capacity  and  taste.  The 
youth  should  be  educated  for  it  and,  as  far  as  possible,  in 
it;  and  when  this  is  done  it  should  be  pursued  with  industry, 
energy,  and  enthusiasm,  which  will  warrant  success. 

This  choice  of  an  occupation  depends  partly  upon  the  in- 
dividual preference  and  p'cjrtly  upon  circumstances.  It  may 
be  that  you  are  debarred  from  entering  upon  that  business 
for  which  you  are  best  adapted.  In  that  case  make  the  best 
choice  in  your  power,  apply  yourself  faithfully  and  earnestly 
to  whatever  you  undertake,  and  you  cannot  help  achieving 
a success.  Patient  application  sometimes  leads  to  great 
results.  No  man  should  be  discouraged  because  he  does 
not  get  on  rapidly  in  his  calling  from  the  start.  In  the  more 
intellectual  professions  especially  it  should  be  remembered 
that  a solid  character  is  not  the  growth  of  a day,  that  the 
mental  faculties  are  not  matured  except  by  long  and  labor- 
ious culture. 

To  refine  the  taste,  to  fortify  the  reasoning  faculty  with  its 
appropriate  discipline,  to  store  the  cells  of  memory  with 
varied  and  useful  learning,  to  train  all  the  powers  of  the 
mind  systematically,  is  the  work  of  calm  and  studious  years. 
A young  man’s  education  has  been  of  but  little  use  to  him  if 
it  has  not  taught  him  to  check  the  fretful  impatience,  the 
eager  haste  to  drink  the  cup  of  life,  the  desire  to  exhaust  the 
intoxicating  draught  of  ambition.  He  should  set  his  aim  so 
high  that  it  will  require  patient  years  of  toil  to  reach  it.  If 
he  can  reach  it  at  a bound  it  is  unworthy  of  him.  It  should 
be  of  such  a nature  that  he  feels  the  necessity  of  husbanding 
his  resources. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


213 


You  will  receive  all  sorts  of  the  most  excellent  advice,  but 
you  must  do  your  own  deciding.  You  have  to  take  care  of 
yourself  in  this  world,  and  you  may  as  well  take  your  own 
way  of  doing  it.  But  if  a change  of  business  is  desired  be 
sure  the  fault  is  with  the  business  and  not  the  individual. 
For  running  hither  and  thither  generally  makes  sorry  work, 
and  brings  to  poverty  ere  the  sands  of  life  are  half  run.  The 
North,  South,  East,  and  West  furnish  vast  fields  for  enter- 
prise; but  of  what  avail  for  the  seeker  to  visit  the  four  cor- 
ners of  the  world  if  he  still  is  dissatisfied,  and  returns  home 
with  empty  pockets  and  idle  hands,  thinks  that  the  world  is 
wrong  and  that  he  himself  is  a misused  and  shamefully  im- 
posed on  creature.  The  world  smiling  at  the  rebuff,  moves 
on,  while  he  lags  behind,  groaning  over  misusage,  without 
sufficient  energy  to  roll  up  his  sleeves  and  fight  his  way 
through. 

A second  profession  seldom  succeeds,  not  because  a man 
may  not  make  himself  fully  equal  to  its  duties,  but  because 
the  world  will  not  readily  believe  he  is  so.  The  world 
argues  thus;  he  that  has  failed  in  his  first  profession,  to 
which  he  dedicated  the  morning  of  his  life  and  the  Spring- 
time of  his  exertion,  is  not  the  most  likely  person  to  master 
a second.  To  this  it  might  be  replied  that  a man's  first 
profession  is  often  chosen  for  him  by  others;  his  second  he 
usually  decides  upon  for  himself;  therefore,  his  failure  in  his 
first  profession  may,  for  what  he  knows,  be  mainly  owing  to 
the  sincere  but  mistaken  attention  he  was  constantly  paying 
to  his  second. 

Ever  remember  that  it  is  not  your  trade  or  profession  that 
makes  you  respectable.  Manhood  and  profession  or  handi- 
craft are  entirely  different  things.  An  occupation  is  never 
an  end  of  life.  It  is  an  instrument  put  into  our  hands  by 
which  to  gain  for  the  body  the  means  of  living  until  sickness 


214 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


or  old  age  robs  it  of  life,  and  we  pass  on  to  the  world  for  which 
this  is  a preparation.  The  great  purpose  of  living  is  twofold 
in  character.  The  one  should  never  change  from  the  time 
reason  takes  the  helm;  it  is  to  live  a life  of  manliness,  of 
purity  and  honor.  To  live  such  a life,  that,  whether  rich  or 
poor,  your  neighbors  will  honor  and  respect  you  as  a man  of 
sterling  principles.  The  other  is  to  have  some  business,  in 
the  due  performance  of  which  you  are  to  put  forth  all  your 
exertions.  It  matters  not  so  much  what  it  is  as  whether  it  be 
honorable,  and  it  may  change  to  suit  the  varying  change  of 
circumstances.  When  these  two  objects — character  and  a 
high  aim — are  fairly  before  a youth,  what  then.^  He  must 
strive  to  attain  those  objects.  He  must  work  as  well  as 
dream,  labor  as  well  as  pray.  His  hand  must  be  as  stout  as 
his  heart,  his  arm  as  strong  as  his  head.  Purpose  must  be 
followed  by  action.  Then  is  he  living  and  acting  worthily, 
as  becomes  a human  being  with  great  destinies  in  store 
for  him. 

There  is  a saying,  “Aim  high;  but  not  so  high  as  not  to  be 
able  to  hit  anything.” 

Some  writer  has  said:  “A  highly  successful  career  must 
have  some  one  aim  above  every  other,  Jacks-of- all-trades 
are  useful  in  many  ways,  but  their  very  versatility  operates 
against  their  winning  great  success  in  any  line.  The  spec- 
ialists succeed  best.  Whatever  the  specialty  be,  the  concen- 
tration of  effort  which  it  demands  accomplishes  much.  True 
success  depends  on  deciding  what  really  is  the  highest  object 
in  life,  and  what  the  relative  value  of  other  objects,  and  on 
the  proportioning  of  efforts  accordingly.” 

It  is  a sad  truth  that  “The  greater  part  of  all  the  mischief 
of  the  world,  comes  from  the  fact  that  men  do  not  sufficiently 
understand  their  own  aims.  They  are  deficient  in  tact  and 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


216 


labor  on  the  foundation  than  would  be  necessary  to  erect 
a hut.’* 

Tact  has  been  defined  “as  the  judicious  use  of  our  powers 
at  the  right  time.”  It  is  that  priceless  discretion  which  makes 
the  wise  man  to  differ  from  the  fool;  that  invaluable  knowl- 
edge by  which  we  know  how  to  make  the  world  about  us  a 
stepping-stone  to  our  success,  and  all  the  conditions  around 
us  but  so  many  rounds  in  the  ladder  by  which  we  rise. 

Precisely  the  same  quality  is  needed  in  the  practical  con- 
cerns of  life, — a business  man  comes  to  an  obstacle  which 
appears  insurmountable;  he  must  have  tact  to  make  use  of 
his  resources  so  as  to  overcome  it,  or  he  may  be  overwhelmed 
with  destruction.  And  not  only  in  business  affairs,  but  in 
the  everyday  concerns  of  life,  tact  is  needed  to  smooth  over 
difficulties  and  to  make  the  best  of  untoward  circumstances, 

Shakespeare,  that  “myriad-minded  bard,”  whose  profound 
knowledge  of  human  nature  and  marvelous  perception  of  the 
phases  and  incidents  of  daily  life  have  made  his  immortal 
works  a store-house  of  wisdom,  has  truly  said:  “There  is  a 

tide  in  the  affairs  of  men,  which,  taken  at  the  flood,  leads  on 
to  fortune.”  What  man  who  has  arrived  at  maturity  does 
not  sometimes  sadly  look  back  over  the  departed  years,  and 
mark  the  many  opportunities,  rich  and  golden,  which  pre- 
sented themselves  to  him,  but  which  he  let  pass  beyond  his 
grasp  forever,  because  he  was  not  ready  to  seize  them ! 

Here  is  the  difference  between  success  and  failure  in  life; 
the  successful  man  is  ready  to  be  borne  onward  by  the  tide 
of  opportune  circumstances, — ready  for  victories  when  good 
fortune  consents  to  be  his  ally  and  standard  bearer. 

One  great  secret  of  success  in  life  is  to  make  ready  for 
opportunity,  so  that  when  new  preferment  and  responsi- 
bilities come  to  us,  we  may  be  able  to  accept  them,  and  per- 


216 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


form  the  duties  they  bring,  without  abusing  the  trust  reposed 
in  us.  How  many  spend  their  lives  groveling  in  the  mire  of 
conscious  inferiority,  because  they  have  utterly  failed  to  take 
advantage  of  favorable  opportunities. 

And  so  there  comes  a time  in  the  life  of  every  man  when 
a brilliant  opportunity  is  within  his  reach  if  he  is  but  ready 
for  it.  If  not  ready,  it  passes  from  his  sight  forever,  and 
leaves  him  but  a stinging  recollection  of  what  he  has  lost. 

A thoughtful  essayist  has  remarked:  “Like  all  the  virtues, 
earnestness  is  sometimes  a natural  trait,  and  sometimes  one 
acquired  by  the  healthy  graft  of  moral  and  religious  princi- 
ple. It  is  a positive  essential  in  the  structure  of  character; 
it  is  one  of  the  main  instruments  in  all  action  that  is  to 
benefit  others.  It  gives  persistency  to  the  unstable,  strength 
to  the  feeble,  ability  and  skill  to  the  inefficient,  and  success 
to  all  endeavor.  There  is  a might  in  it  that  is  magical  to 
the  vacillating  and  irresolute.  Its  possessors  are  those  who 
stood  in  the  front  ranks  of  life  from  the  schoolroom  to  the 
forum;  from  the  child  with  its  first  “reward  of  merit/’  to  the 
matron  who  presides  over  the  well-ordered  household,  and 
gives  her  blessing  to  well- trained  sons  and  daughters,  as  they 
leave  their  mother’s  home  for  lives  of  usefulness  to  wider 
spheres. 

Nothing  is  so  contagious  as  enthusiasm;  it  is  the  real  alle- 
gory of  the  lute  of  Orpheus;  it  moves  stones;  it  charms 
brutes.  Enthusiasm  is  the  genius  of  sincerity,  and  truth 
accomplishes  no  victories  without  it. 

Seize  the  moment  of  excited  curiosity  on  any  subject  to 
solve  your  doubts;  for  if  you  let  it  pass,  the  desire  may  never 
return,  and  you  may  remain  in  ignorance. 

With  a laudable  purpose,  enthusiasm,  guided  by  practical 
good  sense,  and  sustained  by  tireless  industry  and  persever- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


217 


ance,  will  lead  to  the  highest  round  in  the  ladder  of  success. 

People  generally  get  what  they  pay  for,  and  usually  value 
those  articles  the  most  which  cost  them  the  highest  price, 
and  the  greatest  sacrifice  to  obtain.  There  may  be  now  and 
then  a person  who  stumbles  on  success  by  accident,  as  a 
man  may  stumble  on  a gold  mine,  but  these  instances  are 
exceptional,  and  seldom  happen.  Those  who  succeed  in 
any  special  department  of  human  action  are,  as  a rule,  those 
who  carefully  plan  for  it,  expect  it,  and  are  willing  to  pay 
the  full  price  to  attain  it. 

Success  demands  to  be  bought  with  a price;  it  is  stern  and 
unyielding  in  its  requirements,  inflexible  in  its  terms,  and 
exacts  the  uttermost  farthing.  It  costs  application,  diligence, 
self-sacrifice  and  enthusiasm;  the  blandishments  of  pleasure 
must  be  disregarded,  the  allurements  of  fashionable  society 
avoided,  the  quiet  and  retirement  of  solitude  courted. 

Then  labor  on  patiently,  toiler,  whatever  may  be  your 
task — whether  of  the  hand  or  the  brain.  Work  wisely  and 
steadily,  and  in  due  time  you  will  be  crowned  with  that  suc- 
cess which  you  have  so  richly  earned. 

One  of  the  most  important  subjects  on  which  to  stand 
“just  right’*  is  the  matter  of  drinking,  for  of  all  the  terrible 
curses  that  have  destroyed  humanity,  intemperance  is  the 
most  fearful. 

A quaint  old  writer  says:  “There  is  no  sin  which  doth 

more  deface  God’s  image  than  drunkenness;  it  disguiselh  a 
person,  and  doth  even  unman  him.  Drunkenness  makes 
him  have  the  throat  of  a fish,  the  belly  of  a swine,  and  the 
head  of  an  ass.  Drunkenness  is  the  shame  of  nature,  the 
extinguisher  of  reason,  the  shipwreck  of  chasity,  and  the 
murder  of  conscience. 

Drink  perverts  the  appetite,  weakens  the  will,  and  debases 


218 


HOW  TO  WIN. 


moral  nature.  It  makes  a man  coarse,  brutal  and  repul- 
sive and  seems  to  cast  out  every  element  of  manliness,  and 
principle  of  honor.  The  only  safe  rule  is  to  let  it  alone.  If 
there  is  not  sufficient  resolution  to  resist  the  first  glass,  what 
folly  to  suppose  that  the  tenth  or  fiftieth  can  be  put  away, 
when  the  habit  of  drinking  is  more  or  less  formed,  and  an 
appetite  created. 

There  are  other  temptations  which  come  with  overwhelm- 
ing power.  One  of  these  is  the  use  of  tobacco  in  some  of  its 
forms.  It  may  seem  to  you  a maniy  thing  to  puff  a cigar, 
but  depend  upon  it  you  will  lower  yourself  in  the  estimation 
of  your  best  friends  by  so  doing.  There  are  good  physical 
reasons  also  why  you  should  let  it  alone,  A writer  says  of  it: 
“It  has  utterly  ruined  thousands.  It  tends  to  the  softening 
of  the  bones,  and  it  greatly  injures  the  brain,  the  spinal  mar- 
row, and  the  whole  nervous  fluid.  One  who  smokes  early 
and  frequently,  or  in  any  way  uses  large  quantities  of  tobacco, 
is  never  known  to  make  a man  of  much  energy,  and  gen- 
erally lacks  muscular  and  physical,  as  well  as  mental  power. 
We  would  warn  those  who  want  to  be  anything  in  the  world, 
to  shun  tobacco  as  a most  baneful  poison.  ’’ 

Then,  too,  it  will  be  a daily  leak  in  your  pocket.  Before 
you  begin  to  imitate  the  boy  or  man  who  is  fascinating  to 
you,  simply  because  he  has  in  his  mouth  a disgusting  weed, 
or  a few  leaves  rolled  up,  just  stop  and  make  an  estimate  of 
what  this  habit  costs  him  daily.  Multiply  that  by  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  then  by  the  number  of  years 
between  your  age  and  the  good  old  age  you  hope  to  attain, 
and  see  if  it  does  not  look  a little  less  worthy  of  your  admi- 
ration and  approval.  Of  how  many  comforts  must  the 
laborer  and  his  family  be  denied  that  the  father  may  have  his 
pipe.  If  it  is  a desirable  habit,  then  it  is  time  that  your  mother 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


219 


and  sisters  shared  it  with  you.  Above  all,  boys,  you  who  so 
enjoy  your  freedom  that  you  are  somtimes  almost  tempted  to 
be  impatient  of  the  home  control,  which  love  makes  only 
as  a silken  cord,  consider  well  before  you  let  this,  or  any 
other  habit,  forge  its  links  about  you  day  by  day,  until,  in- 
stead of  the  God-given  freedom  which  should  be  yours  to 
exercise,  you  find  yourself  a slave. 

And  so,  too,  of  the  intoxicating  cup.  Let  nothing  per- 
suade you  to  touch,  taste,  or  handle  it.  Take  warning  from 
the  fate  of  others,  who  once  were  as  strong  and  promising  as 
yourself.  Gough,  the  great  temperance  orator,  once  re- 
lated this  incident  to  show  to  what  depth  our  poor 
humanity  could  fall  when  in  the  power  of  this  debasing 
vice:  A young  wife  and  mother  lay  in  an  ill-furnished 

and  comfortless  room,  dying.  Years  before  she  had  stood 
at  the  marriage  altar,  beside  the  man  of  her  choice,  as 
fair  and  hopeful  a bride  as  ever  took  a vow.  Her  young 
husband  loved  her,  at  least  so  he  said,  and  he  solemnly  vowed 
to  love  her  to  the  end;  but  he  loved  liquor  more  than  he 
loved  his  young  and  beautiful  wife.  It  soon  began  to  dawn 
upon  her  mind  that  she  was  in  that  most  horrible  of  all  posi- 
tions— a position  a thousand  times  worse  than  widowhood 
or  the  grave, — a position  than  which  there  are  only  two 
worse  possible, — Hell,  and  that  of  a drunkard’s  husband, — I 
mean  the  heartrending,  degrading  position  of  a drunkard’s 
wife.  She  used  every  means  to  reform  him,  but,  like  too 
many,  others,  found  her  efforts  useless.  His  cruelty  and 
debauchery  soon  brought  her  to  the  grave. 

A little  before  she  died,  she  asked  him  to  come  to  her 
bed-side;  and  pleaded  with  him  once  more  for  the  sake  of 
her  children,  soon  to  be  motherless,  to  drink  no  more.  With 
her  thin,  long  fingers  she  held  his  hand,  and  as  she  pleaded 


220 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


with  him  he  promised  in  this  terribly  solemn  way:  “Mary, 

I will  drink  no  more  till  I take  it  out  of  this  hand  which  I 
hold  in  mine.’’  That  very  night  he  poured  out  a tumbler  of 
brandy,  stole  into  the  room  where  she  lay  cold  in  her  coffin, 
put  the  tumbler  into  her  withered  hand  and  then  took  it  out 
and  drained  it  to  the  bottom.  This  is  a scene  from  real  life, 
and  it  is  not  more  revolting  than  hundreds  of  others 
which  are  happening  in  miserable,  drink-cursed  homes.  In 
this  matter  do  not  be  content  with  merely  saving  yourself, 
but  work  to  save  others.  Take  sides  against  this  evil,  and 
be  a champion  for  purity,  sobriety  and  a high  manhood. 
Learn  early  to  value  your  good  name,  and  guard  it  as  you 
would  your  life.  Your  character  is  your  best  capital  and 
fortune. 


■4 


CHAPTER  XV 


SUCCESS  OR  F/^ILURE 


HO  does  not  desire  success?  Who  does  not  feel  the 
sting  of  failure?  Who  has  not  felt  the  thrill  of 
anticipation,  as  hope  painted  in  rosy  colors  the  joy 
of  fulfilling  some  long  cherished  desire?  Who  among  men 
can  say  he  has  no  amb’tion  that  he  cherishes  as  his  daily 
companion?  Who  can  see  his  cherished  hopes  come  to 
naught  without  a bitter  pang? 

For  success  brings  with  it  all  that  makes  life  attractive;  all 
that  fills  the  heart  with  joy.  Nature  never  intended  any 
man  to  make  a failure  of  life;  for  him  who  fails  she  has  a 
whip  of  scorpion  stings;  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  his  fellow 
men;  the  loss  of  bodily  ease  and  comfort;  the  mental  tortures 
of  mean  surroundings,  and  loss  of  love  and  friendship,  all 
these  follow  in  the  train  of  failure. 

And  for  him  who  succeeds  Nature  reserves  the  choicest 
gifts  of  life.  If  his  desire  is  for  power  he  may  sway  thous- 
ands at  his  will.  He  may  see  the  best  and  noblest  of  the 
land  unite  to  honor  him.  He  m^y  realize  all  the  joy,  the 
warmth  and  color  that  a woman’s  love  can  bring  into  a man’s 
life.  He  may  know  the  full  meaning  of  domestic  happiness; 

221 


222 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


he  may  gather  around  his  own  fireside  his  friends  and  kin- 
dred; he  may  gather  around  his  knee  his  own  healthy  and 
happy  children. 

The  world  honors  success  because  true  success  always 
means  work  well  done  in  some  department  of  the  worlds 
work.  Success  cannot  be  inherited,  it  must  be  won.  It  is 
the  fruit  of  one’s  own  brain,  muscle  and  will  power  working 
together  to  overcome  the  barriers  which  Nature  places  in  the 
path  of  him  who  would  succeed.  These  barriers  only  serve 
to  prove  the  fitness  of  him  who  aspires  to  win  the  royal  prizes 
of  life.  Every  true  man  who  wins  success  makes  the  world 
richer  at  the  same  time;  he  adds  something  to  that  glorious 
legacy  of  knowledge  and  achievement,  which  the  generations 
of  the  past  transmit  to  the  generations  to  come. 

A true  man  never  yet  was  born  for  naught ; 

Wherever  any  such  have  lived  or  died, 

There  has  been  something  for  true  freedom  wrought ; 

Some  bulwark  levelled  on  the  evil  side.” 

Success  is  not  a matter  of  luck  or  chance;  success  may  be 
made  a certainty.  It  is  simply  a matter  of  proper  training 
and  equipment  for  the  race.  The  goal  toward  which  every 
energy  of  mind  and  body  must  be  directed,  should  be  one 
which  Nature  has  fitted  the  aspirant  to  achieve. 

Steadfastness  of  purpose  is  necessary  to  achieve  success, 
unless  those  qualities  which  fit  a man  to  win  are  accom- 
panied by  intense  earnestness  he  will  waver  and  turn  aside, 
his  attention  will  be  directed  to  other  objects,  and  he  will 
fail  to  win  the  prize.  Preserve  a singleness  of  aim  if  you 
would  make  yourself  master  of  the  situation. 

Know  yourself;  know  your  own  powers  and  the  needs  of 
your  own  nature;  every  man  has  a place  in  life  which  he  is 
fitted  to  fill,  and  it  is  not  wise  to  try  to  be  a poet  if  Nature 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


223 


has  equipped  you  for  a good  mechanic.  The  place  which 
Nature  has  fitted  you  for  is  the  only  place  where  you  can 
expect  happiness;  be  wise  in  your  choice. 

Energy,  concentration  and  persistence  will  bring  success 
in  any  line  of  business.  Dr.  Arnold,  of  Rugby,  said  it  was 
not  intellectual  qualities  so  much  as  energy  of  character, 
that  marked  cut  a youth  as  a man  who  would  be  successful. 
Energy  is  the  driving  force  without  the  rudder  and  the  skill 
of  the  navigator  would  be  useless  to  bring  the  ship  safely  to 
port.  So  in  the  voyage  of  life,  he,  who  conserves  all  his 
forces  may  safely  guide  his  course  over  the  stormy  seas  which 
threaten  destruction  on  every  side,  while  he  who  dissipates 
his  powers  in  the  pursuit  of  pleasure  or  folly  will  find  him- 
self in  the  voyage  of  life,  drifting  helplessly  at  the  mercy  of 
the  waves. 

Every  one  will  meet  obstacles  and  discouragements  in  his 
path  toward  success,  but  persistence  and  energy  will  over- 
come them  all.  He  who  is  easily  turned  aside  and  diverted 
from  his  purpose  will  rarely  be  successful.  Success  in  the 
first  attempt  will  inspire  hope,  until  the  habit  of  succeeding 
in  all  you  undertake  becomes  fixed  and  is  a part  of  your 
character;  it  will  come  as  a matter  of  course  because  you 
determine  it  shall  come  and  prepare  for  it. 

The  truly  successful  man  is  he  who  has  achieved  power 
over  his  fellow  men,  and  who  uses  that  power  for  good;  this 
is  the  secret  of  the  rush  to  get  rich;  it  is  because  riches  give 
power  over  the  lives  of  others  and  their  possessor  is  looked 
up  to,  courted,  flattered  and  sought  by  all  men.  Let  men 
cease  to  value  money  and  the  race  for  wealth  would  cease. 
The  miser  would  become  an  object  of  pity  and  contempt. 
Why  do  men  value  riches  above  most  everything  else.^  It  is 
simply  because  society  so  organized  that  men  must  have 


224 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


money  in  order  to  live,  and  the  man  who  can  command  it 
has  the  power  of  a king  over  his  fellow  men.  But  a time 
will  surely  come,  and  even  now  almost  here,  when  compet- 
ence and  plenty  will  be  the  rule,  and  not  the  exception;  then 
no  longer  will  the  rich  man  be  looked  up  to  and  courted  be- 
cause of  his  riches,  but  the  man  who  has  cultivated  a higher 
and  nobler  way  of  obtaining  power  over  his  fellow  men  will 
be  the  centre  of  attraction.  Then  the  man  who  has  lived 
truly,  and  who  is  overflowing  with  Personal  Magnetism  will 
be  the  leader  in  action,  the  man  who  has  thought  and 
studied  and  made  himself  master  of  Nature's  laws  will  be 
the  leader  in  council  and  he  will  be  the  richest  who  has  best 
served  his  fellows,  and  won  the  love  of  thousands. 

Mankind  everywhere  is  desirous  of  achieving  a success, 
of  making  the  most  of  life.  At  times,  it  is  true,  they  act  as 
if  they  little  cared  what  was  the  outcome  of  their  exertions. 
But  even  in  the  lives  of  the  most  abandoned  and  reckless 
there  are  moments  when  their  good  angel  points  out  to  them 
the  heights  to  which  they  might  ascend,  that  a wish  arises  for 
Something  better  than  they  have  known.” 

But,  alas ! they  have  not  the  will  to  make  the  necessary 
exertions. 

We  are  confronted  with  two  ends — success  or  failure.  To 
win  the  former  it  requires  of  us  labor  and  perseverance. 
We  must  remember  that  those  who  start  for  glory  must  imi- 
tate the  mettled  hounds  of  Acton,  and  must  pursue  the  game 
not  only  where  there  is  a path,  but  where  there  is  none. 
They  must  be  able  to  simulate  and  to  dissimulate;  to  leap 
and  to  creep;  to  conquer  the  earth  like  Caesar;  to  fall  down 
and  kiss  it  like  Brutus;  to  throw  their  sword  like  Brennus, 
into  the  trembling  scale,  or,  like  Nelson,  to  snatch  the  laurels 
from  the  doubtful  hand  of  victory  while  she  is  hesitating' 


Joan  of  Arc  Listening  to  Voices, 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


22C 


where  to  bestow  them.  He  that  would  win  success  in  life 
must  make  Perseverance  his  bosom  friend,  Experience  his 
wise  counselor,  Caution  his  elder  brother  and  Hope  his 
guardian  genius.  He  must  not  repine  because  the  fates  are 
sometimes  against  him,  but  when  he  trips  or  falls  let  him, 
like  Caesar  when  he  stumbled  on  shore,  stumbled  forward, 
and,  by  escaping  the  omen,  change  its  nature  and  meaning. 
Remembering  that  those  very  circumstances  which  are  apt 
to  be  abused  as  the  palliatives  of  failure  are  the  true  tests  of 
merit,  let  him  gird  up  his  loins  for  whatever  in  the  myster- 
ious economy  of  the  future  may  await  him.  Thus  will  he 
rise  superior  to  ill-fortune,  and  becoming  daily  more  and 
more  impassive  to  its  attacks,  will  learn  to  force  his  way  in 
spite  of  it,  till  at  last  he  will  be  able  to  fashion  his  luck  to 
his  will. 

“Life  is  too  short,’’  says  a shrewd  thinker,  “for  us  to  waste 
one  moment  in  deploring  our  lot.  We  must  go  after  suc- 
cess, since  it  will  not  come  to  us,  and  we  have  no  time  to 
spare.”  If  you  wish  to  succeed,  you  must  do  as  you  would 
to  get  in  through  a crowd  to  a gate  all  are  anxious  to  reach — 
hold  your  ground  and  push  hard;  to  stand  still  is  to  give  up 
the  battle.  Give  your  energies  to  the  highest  employment 
of  which  your  nature  is  capable.  Be  alive,  be  patient,  work 
hard,  watch  opportunities,  be  rigidly  honest,  hope  for  the 
best;  and  if  you  are  not  able  to  reach  the  goal  of  your  ambi- 
tion, which  is  possible  in  spite  of  your  utmost  efforts,  you 
will  die  with  the  consciousness  of  having  done  your  best, 
which  is  after  all  the  truest  success  to  which  man  can  aspire. 

As  manhood  dawns  and  the  young  man  catches  its  first 
lights,  the  pinnacles  of  realized  dreams,  the  golden  domes  of 
high  possibilites,  the  purpling  hills  of  great  delights,  and 
then  looks  down  upon  the  narrow,  sinuous,  long  and  dusty 


226 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


paths  by  which  others  have  reached  them,  he  is  apt  to  be 
disgusted  with  the  passage,  and  to  seek  for  success  through 
broader  channels  and  by  quicker  means.  To  begin  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  and  work  slowly  to  the  top  seems  a very  dis- 
couraging process,  and  here  it  is  that  thousands  of  young 
men  have  made  shipwreck  of  their  lives.  There  is  no  royal 
road  to  success.  The  path  lies  through  troubles  and  dis- 
couragements. It  lies  through  fields  of  earnest,  patient 
labor.  It  calls  on  the  young  man  to  put  forth  energy  and 
determination.  It  bids  him  build  well  his  foundation,  but  it 
promises  in  reward  of  this  a crowning  triumph. 

There  never  was  a time  in  the  world  s history  when  high 
success  in  any  profession  or  calling  demanded  harder  or 
more  earnest  labor  than  now.  It  is  impossible  to  succeed  in 
a hurry.  Men  can  no  longer  go  at  a single  leap  into  emi- 
nent positions.  As  those  articles  are  most  highly  prized  to 
attain  which  requires  the  greatest  amount  of  labor,  so  the 
road  that  leads  to  success  is  long  and  rugged.  What  matter 
if  a round  does  break  or  a foot  slip;  such  things  must  be 
expected,  and  being  expected,  they  must  be  overcome.  Rome 
was  not  built,  in  a day;  but  proofs  of  her  magnificent  temples 
are  still  to  be  seen.  We  each  prepare  a temple  to  last 
through  all  eternity.  A structure  to  last  so  long,  can  it  take 
but  a day  to  build  it.^  The  days  of  a life-time  are  necessary 
to  build  the  monument  mightier  than  Rome  and  more  endur- 
ing than  adamant.  It  is  hard,  earnest  work,  step  by  step, 
that  secures  success;  and  while  energy  and  perseverance  are 
securing  the  prize  for  steady  workers,  others,  sitting  down  by 
the  wayside,  are  wondering  why  they,  too,  cannot  be  success- 
ful. They  surely  forget  that  the  true  key  is  labor,  and  that 
nothing  but  a strong,  resolute  will  can  turn  it. 

The  secret  of  one’s  success  or  failure  is  usually  contained 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


227 


in  answer  to  the  question,  “How  earnest  is  he?”  Success  is 
the  child  of  confidence  and  perseverance.  The  talent  of 
success  is  simply  doing  what  you  can  do  well,  and  doing 
well  whatever  you  do,  without  a thought  of  fame.  Success  is 
the  best  test  of  capacity,  and  materially  confirms  us  in  a 
favorable  opinion  of  ourselves.  Success  in  life  is  the  proper 
and  harmonious  development  of  those  faculties  which  God 
has  given  us.  Whatever  you  try  to  do  in  life,  try  with  all 
your  heart  to  do  it  well;  whatever  you  devote  yourself  to, 
devote  yourself  to  it  completely.  ^ Never  believe  it  possible 
that  any  natural  ability  can  claim  immunity  from  compan- 
ionship of  the  steady,  plain,  hard-working  qualities,  and  hope 
to  gain  its  end.  There  can  be  no  such  fulfillment  on  this 
earth  Some  happy  talent  and  some  fortunate  opportunity 
may  form  the  sides  of  the  ladder  on  which  some  men  mount; 
but  the  rounds  of  the  ladder  must  be  made  of  material  to 
stand  wear  and  tear,  and  there  is  no  substitute  for  thorough- 
going, ardent,  sincere  earnestness.  Never  put  your  hand  on 
anything  into  which  you  cannot  throw  your  whole  self;  never 
affect  depreciation  of  your  own  work,  whatever  it  is. 

Although  success  is  the  guerdon  for  which  all  men  toil, 
they  have,  nevertheless,  often  to  labor  on  perseveringly  with- 
out any  glimmer  of  success  in  sight.  They  have  to  live, 
meanwhile,  upon  their  courage.  Sowing  their  seed,  it  may 
be  in  the  dark,  in  the  hope  that  it  will  yet  take  root  and 
spring  up  in  achieved  result.  The  best  of  causes  have  had 
to  fight  their  way  to  triumph  through  a long  succession  of 
failures,  and  many  of  the  assailants  have  died  in  the  breach 
before  the  fortune  has  been  won.  The  heroism  they  have 
displayed  is  to  be  measured,  not  so  much  by  their  immedi- 
ate successes,  as  by  the  opposition  they  have  encountered 
and  the  courage  with  which  they  have  maintained  the 
struggle. 


228 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Among  the  habits  required  for  the  efficient  prosecution  of 
business  of  any  kind,  and  consequent  success,  the  most  im- 
portant are  those  of  application,  observation,  method,  accur- 
acy, punctuality,  and  dispatch.  Some  persons  sneer  at  these 
virtues  as  little  things,  trifles  unworthy  of  their  notice.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  human  life  is  made  up  of  trifles. 
As  the  pence  make  the  pound  and  the  minutes  the  hour,  so 
it  is  the  repetition  of  little  things,  severally  insignificant, 
that  make  up  human  character.  In  the  majority  of  cases 
where  men  have  failed  of  success,  it  has  been  owing  to  the 
neglect  of  little  things  deemed  too  microscopic  to  need  atten- 
tion to  matter  of  detail  is  the  mother  of  good  fortune.  Ac- 
curacy is  also  of  much  importance,  and  an  invariable  mark 
of  good  training  in  a man — accuracy  in  observation,  accuracy 
in  speech,  accuracy  in  the  transaction  of  affairs.  What  is 
done  in  business  must  be  done  well  if  you  would  win  the 
success  desired. 

Give  a man  power,  and  a field  in  which  to  use  it,  and  he 
must  accomplish  something.  He  may  not  do  and  become 
all  that  he  desires  and  dreams  of,  but  his  life  cannot  well  be 
a failure.  God  has  given  to  all  of  us  ability  and  opportunity 
enough  to  be  moderately  successful.  If  we  utterly  fail,  in 
the  majority  of  cases,  it  is  our  own  fault.  We  have  either 
neglected  to  improve  the  talents  with  which  our  Creator  has 
endowed  us,  or  we  fail  to  enter  the  door -that  has  opened  for 
us.  Such  is  the  constitution  of  human  society  that  the 
wise  person  gradually  learns  not  too  expect  to  much 
from  life;  while  he  strives  for  success  by  worthy  methods, 
he  will  be  prepared  for  failure.  He  will  keep  his  mind 
open  to  enjoyment,  but  submit  patiently  to  suffering.  Wail- 
ings and  complainings  in  life  are  never  ofany  use; 
only  cheerful  and  continuous  working  in  right  paths 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


229 


are  of  real  avail.  In  spite  of  our  best  efforts  failures  are  in 
store  for  many  of  us.  It  remains,  then,  for  you  to  do  the 
best  you  can  under  all  circumstances,  remembering  that  the 
race  is  not  always  to  the  swift  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong. 
It  is  by  the  right  application  of  swiftness  and  strength  that 
you  are  to  make  your  way.  It  is  nor  sufficient  to  do  the 
right  thing,  it  must  be  done  in  the  right  way,  and  at 
the  right  time,  if  you  would  achieve  success. 

Young  man,  have  you  ever  considered  long  and  earnestly 
what  you  were  best  capable  of  doing  in  the  world.^  If  not 
put  it  off  no  longer.  You  expect  to  do  something,  you  wish 
to  achieve  success.  Have  you  ever  thought  of  what  success 
consisted?  It  does  not  consist  in  amassing  a fortune;  some 
of  the  most  unsuccessful  men  have  done  that.  Remember, 
too,  that  success  and  fame  are  not  synonymous  terms.  You 
cannot  all  be  famous  as  lawyers,  statesmen,  or  divines.  You 
may  or  may  not  accumulate  a fortune.  But  is  it  not  true 
that  wealth,  position  and  fame  are  but  the  accidents  of  suc- 
cess, that  success  may  or  may  not  be  accompanied  by  them, 
that  it  is  something  above  and  beyond  them?  In  this  sense 
of  the  word  you  only  are  to  blame  if  you  fall.  It  is  in  your 
power  to  live  a life  of  integrity  and  honor.  You  can  so  live 
that  all  will  honor  and  respect  you.  You  can  speak  words 
of  cheer  to  the  downhearted,  a kindly  word  of  caution  to  the 
erring  one.  You  can  help  remove  some  obstacle  from  the 
paths  of  the  weak.  You  can  incite  in  the  minds  of  those 
around  you  a desire  to  live  a pure,  straightforward  life.  You 
can  bid  those  who  are  almost  overwhelmed  by  the  billows 
and  waves  of  sorrow  to  look  up  and  see  the  sun  shining 
through  the  rifts  in  the  dark  clouds  passing  o’er  them.  All 
this  can  you  do,  and  a grand  success  will  be  your  reward. 
Away,  then,  with  your  lethargy.  You  are  a man;  arise  in 


230 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


your  strength  and  your  marihood.  Resolve  to  be  in  this,  its 
true  sense,  a successful  man.  And  then  if  wealth  or  fame 
wait  on  you  and  men  delight  to  do  you  honor,  these  will  be 
but  added  laurels  to  your  brow,  but  the  gilded  frame  encas- 
ing success. 

Would  you  wish  to  live  without  a trial  of  your  own  powers? 
Without  trial  you  cannot  know  your  own  strength.  It  must 
be  measured  by  comparison  with  others,  and  by  your  ability 
to  endure  and  overcome  hard  conditions,  before  you  rdally 
know  your  own  power.  The  serene  self-poise  and  impres- 
sive presence  of  powerful  and  influential  characters,  comes 
fram  a complete  knowledge  of  themselves  and  their  own 
powers  born  of  conflicts  and  victories. 


CHAPTER  XVI 


POWER  OF  CONCENTR/\TION 


“ Concentration  is  never  difiScult  when  we  pay  close 
attention  for  any  length  of  time  to  whatever  engrosses 
our  affections.*’  — Colville. 

^ITN  this  day,  when  so  many  things  are  charming  for  atten- 
M tion,  the  first  law  of  success  may  be  said  to  be  concen, 
^ tration.  It  is  impossible  to  be  successful  in  every  branch 
of  business,  or  renowned  in  every  department  of  a professional 
life.  We  must  learn  to  bend  our  energies  to  one  point  and 
to  go  directly  to  that  point,  looking  neither  to  the  right  nor 
to  the  left.  It  has  been  said  that  a great  deal  of  the  wisdom 
of  a man  in  this  century  is  shown  in  leaving  things  unknown, 
and  a great  deal  of  his  practical  ability  in  leaving  things 
undone.  The  day  of  universal  scholarships  is  past.  Life  is 
short,  and  art  is  long.  The  range  of  human  wisdom  has  in- 
creased so  enormously  that  no  human  brain  can  grapple  with 
it  and  the  man  who  would  know  one  thing  well  must  have 
the  courage  to  be  ignorant  of  a thousand  other  things,  how- 
ever attractive  or  interesting.  As  with  knowledge,  so  with 
work.  The  man  who  would  get  along  must  single  out  his 
specialty,  and  into  that  must  pour  the  whole  stream  of  his 
activity — all  the  energies  of  his  hand,  eye,  tongue,  heart  and 
brain.  Broad  culture,  many-sidedness,  are  beautiful  things 
to  contemplate;  but  it  is  the  narrow-edged  men — the  men  of 

231 


232 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


one  single  and  intense  purpose — who  steel  the  soul  against 
all  things  else,  that  accomplish  the  hard  work  of  the  world. 

The  great  men  of  every  age  who  have  had  the  arduous 
task  to  shape  human  destiny  have  been  men  of  one  idea  im- 
pelled by  resolute  energy.  Take  those  names  that  are 
historic,  and  with  the  exception  of  a few  great  creative 
minds  you  find  them  to  be  men  who  are  identified  with  some 
one  achievement  upon  which  their  life  force  was  spent.  The 
great  majority  of  men  must  concentrate  their  energies  upon 
the  complete  mastery  of  some  one  profession,  trade  or  call- 
ing or  they  will  experience  the  disappointment  of  those 
whose  empire  has  been  lost  in  the  ambition  of  universal  con- 
quest. A man  may  have  the  most  dazzling  talents,  but  if 
they  are  scattered  upon  many  objects  he  wilt  accomplish 
nothing.  Strength  is  like  gunpowder;  to  be  effective  it  needs 
concentration  and  aim.  The  marksman  who  aims  at  the 
whole  target  will  seldom  hit  the  center.  The  literary  man 
or  philosopher  may  revel  among  the  sweetest  and  most  beau- 
tiful flowers  of  thought,  but  unless  he  gathers  or  condenses 
these  in  the  honeycomb  of  some  great  thought  or  work  his 
finest  conceptions  will  be  lost  or  useless. 

The  world  has  few  universal  geniuses  who  are  capable  of 
mastering  a dozen  languages,  arts,  or  sciences,  or  driving  a 
dozen  callings  abreast.  Beginners  in  life  are  perpetually 
complaining  of  the  disadvantages  under  which  they  labor 
but  it  is  an  indisputable  fact  that  more  persons  fail  from  a 
multiplicity  of  pursuits  and  pretensions  than  from  a poverty 
of  resources.  “The  one  prudence  in  life,’’  says  a shrewd 
American  essayist,  “is  concentration,  the  one  evil  is  dissipa- 
tion; and  it  makes  no  difference  whether  our  dissipations 
are  coarse  or  fine,  property  and  its  cares,  friends  and  a 
social  habit,  politics,  music,  or  feasting.  Everything  is 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


233 


good  which  takes  away  one  plaything  and  delusion  more, 
and  drives  us  home  to  add  one  stroke  of  faithful  work,”  The 
gardener  does  not  suffer  the  sap  to  be  driven  into  a thousand 
channels  merely  to  develop  a myriad  of  profitless  twigs.  He 
prunes  the  branches  and  leaves  the  vital  juices  to  be 
absorbed  by  a few  vigorous,  fruit-bearing  branches. 

While  the  highest  ability  accomplishes  but  little  if  scattered 
on  a multiplicity  of  objects,  on  the  other  hand  if  one  has 
but  a thimbleful  of  brains  and  concentrates  them  upon  the 
thing  he  has  in  hand,  he  may  achieve  miracles.  Momentum 
in  physics  if  properly  directed,  will  drive  a tallow  candle 
through  an  inch  board.  Just  so  will  oneness  of  aim 
and  the  direction  of  the  energies  to  a single  pursuit,  while 
all  others  are  waived,  enable  the  veriest  weakling  to  make 
his  mark  where  he  strikes.  The  general  who  scatters  his 
soldiers  all  about  the  country  insures  defeat;  so  does  he 
whose  attention  is  diffused  through  innumerable  channels  so 
that  it  cannot  gather  in  force  on  any  one  point.  The  hu- 
man mind  in  short  resembles  a burning-glass,  whose  rays 
are  intense  only  as  they  are  concentrated.  As  the  glass 
burns  only  when  its  rays  are  converged  to  a focal  point,  so 
the  former  illumes  the  world  of  science,  literature  or  busi- 
ness only  when  it  is  directed  to  a solitary  object.  What  is 
more  powerless  than  the  scattered  clouds  of  steam  as  they 
rise  to  the  sky.^  They  are  as  impotent  as  the  dew-drop  that 
falls  nightly  upon  the  earth;  but  concentrated  and  con- 
densed in  a steam  boiler  they  are  able  to  cut  through  solid 
rock,  to  hurl  mountains  into  the  sea  and  to  bring  the  anti- 
podes to  our  doors. 

It  is  the  lack  of  concentration  and  wholeness  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  shabby,  half-hearted  and  blundering — the 
men  who  make  the  mob  of  life — from  those  who  win  victories. 
In  slower  times  success  might  have  been  won  by  the  man 


234 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


who  gave  but  a corner  of  his  brain  to  the  work  in  hand,  but 
in  these  days  of  keen  competition  it  demands  the  intensest 
application  of  the  thinking  faculty.  Exclusive  dealings  in 
worldly  pursuits  is  a principle  of  hundred-headed  power. 
By  dividing  his  time  among  too  many  objects,  a man  of 
genius  often  becomes  diamond  dust  instead  of  diamond. 
The  time  spent  by  many  persons  in  profitless,  desultory 
reading  would,  if  concentrated  upon  a single  line  of  study, 
have  made  them  masters  of  an  entire  branch  of  literature  or 
science.  Distraction  of  pursuits  is  the  rock  upon  which 
most  unsuccessful  persons  split  in  early  life.  In  law,  in 
medicine,  in  trade,  in  the  mechanical  professions  the  most 
successful  persons  have  been  those  who  have  stuck  to 
one  thing  Nine  out  of  ten  men  lay  out  their  plans  on  too 
vast  a scale  and  they  who  are  competent  to  do  almost  any- 
thing do  nothing,  because  they  never  make  up  their  minds 
distinctly  as  to  what  they  want  or  what  they  intend  to  be. 

We  are  often  compelled  to  a choice  of  acquisitions,  for 
there  are  some  things  the  possession  of  which  is  incompati- 
ble with  the  possession  of  others  and  the  sooner  this  truth 
is  known  and  recognized  the  better  the  chances  of  success 
and  happiness.  Much  material  good  must  be  resigned  if 
we  would  attain  the  highest  degree  of  moral  excellence,  and 
many  spiritual  joys  must  be  foregone  if  we  resolve  at  all  risks 
to  win  great  material  advantages.  To  strive  for  a high  per- 
sonal position  and  yet  expect  to  have  all  the  delights  of 
leisure;  to  labor  for  vast  riches,  and  yet  to  ask  for  freedom 
from  anxiety  and  care,  and  all  the  happiness  which  flows 
from  a contented  mind;  to  indulge  in  sensual  gratifications, 
and  yet  demand  health,  strength  and  vigor;  to  live  for  self, 
and  yet  to  look  for  the  joys  that  spring  from  a virtuous  and 
self-denying  life — is  to  ask  for  impossibilities. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


235 


If  you  start  for  success  you  must  expect  to  pay  its  price. 
It  cannot  be  won  by  feeble,  half-way  efforts,  neither  is  it  to 
be  acquired  because  sought  for  in  a dozen  different  direc- 
tions. It  demands  that  you  bring  to  your  chosen  profession 
or  calling  energy,  industry,  and  above  all,  that  singleness  of 
purpose  which  is  willing  to  devote  the  energies  of  a lifetime 
to  its  accomplishment.  Mere  wishing  and  sighing  brings  it 
not.  Many  little  calls  of  society  on  your  time  must  pass  un- 
heeded. You  cannot  expect  to  live  tranquilly  and  at  your 
eaSe,  but  to  be  up  and  doing,  with  all  your  energies  devoted 
to  the  one  point  kept  constantly  in  view.  Cultivate  this 
habit  of  concentration  if  you  would  succeed  in  business; 
make  it  a second  nature.  Have  a work  for  every  moment, 
and  mind  the  moment’s  work.  Whatever  your  calling, 
master  all  its  bearings  and  details,  all  its  principles,  instru- 
ments and  applications.  We  have  so  much  work  ahead  of 
us  that  must  be  done  if  we  would  reach  the  point  desired 
that  we  must  save  our  strength  as  much  as  possible.  Con- 
centration affords  a great  safe-guard  against  exhaustion.  He 
who  scatters  himself  on  many  objects  soon  looses  his  energy, 
and  with  his  energy  his  enthusiasm — and  how  is  success 
possible  without  enthusiasm.'^ 

It  becomes,  then,  of  importance  to  be  sure  we  have  started 
right  in  the  race  for  distinction.  Every  beginner  in  life 
should  strive  early  to  ascertain  the  strong  faculty  of  his 
mind  or  body  fitting  him  for  some  special  pursuit  and  direct 
his  utmost  energies  to  bring  it  to  perfection.  There  is  no 
adaptation  or  universal  applicability  in  man;  but  each  has 
his  special  talent,  and  the  mastery  of  successful  men  is  in 
adroitly  keeping  themselves  where  and  when  that  turn  shall 
need  oftenest  to  be  practiced. 

It  is  a mistaken  notion,  that  capital,  alone  is  necessary 
to  success  in  business.  If  a man  has  head  and  hands 


236 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


suited  to  his  business,  it  will  soon  procure  him  capital. 
My  observations  satisfy  me  that  at  least  nine-tenths  of 
those  most  successful  in  business,  start  in  life  without  any 
reliance  except  upon  their  own  head  and  hands.  All  pro- 
fessions and  occupations  alike  give  the  field  for  talent, 
perseverance,  and  industry;  and  these  qualities,  whether 
in  the  East,  West  or  South,  sooner  or  latter,  will  crown 
the  aspirant  with  success.  But  to  enable  any  new  begin- 
ner to  succeed,  he  must  not  be  allured  from  his  course  by 
attractive  appearances,  nor  be  driven  from  it  by  trifl’ng 
adverse  gales.  He  must  fit  himself  for  the  calling  he 
adopts,  and  then  pursue  his  course  with  a steady  eye. 
The  first  and  great  object  in  business  is  to  make  yourself 
independent, — to  have  the  means  of  livelihood  without 
being  under  obligations  to  any  person;  whatever  more  is 
acquired  increases  the  power  of  doing  good  and  extends 
influence. 

It  is  found  by  all  men  of  experience,  that  in  so  far  as 
one  trusts  to  his  own  exertions  solely,  he  will  be  apt  to 
flourish;  and  in  so  far  as  he  leans  and  depends  upon 
others,  he  will  do  the  reverse.  But  there  are  many  who 
do  not  recognize  this  principle.  They  trust  only  partially 
to  themselves,  and  are  always  poking  about  after  large 
favors  from  friends.  We  find  them  asking  loans  of  money, 
or  asking  acquaintances  to  interfere  to  get  places  for  them. 
If  they  ask  for  nothing  else,  they  intrude  upon  their  friends 
to  seek  advice.  Neither  physically  nor  morally  do  they 
seem  able  to  exert  themselves  in  their  own  behalf.  This 
is  so  contemptible  a mode  of  living,  that  it  cannot  be  too 
severely  reprehended. 

Those  who  depend  on  others,  can  never  succeed  in  life. 
In  whatever  manner  they  may  be  assisted,  they  can  never 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


237 


become  front  rank  men  in  society.  We  would  earnestly 
impress  upon  the  young  the  propriety  of  depending  as 
little  as  possible  upon  prospects  of  advantages  from  others, 
all  of  whom  have  enough  to  do  for  themselves.  It  is 
obviously  the  duty  of  every  one  to  think  and  act  for  him- 
self, as  soon  as  he  attains  manhood,  and  neither  be  bur- 
densome on  relatives  nor  troublesome  to  acquaintances. 
The  acceptance  of  a trifling  favor  from  an  acquaintance, 
always  lays  us  under  an  obligation,  which  is  sometimes 
difficult  to  remove.  If  the  acquaintance  ever  needs  similar 
favors,  we  feel  bound  to  grant  them;  and  perhaps  he 
estimates  the  original  favor  so  highly  that  he  thinks  we 
cannot  do  enough  to  serve  him.  In  this  way  hundreds 
of  men  are  ruined.  We  would  say,  as  a general  maxim, 
accept  no  favors,  unless  upon  a principle  of  common 
courtesy. 

If  you  employ  others  to  execute  a piece  of  work,  take 
care  to  pay  them  faithfully  and  promptly,  and  lie  und^tr  no 
obligation  to  them;  otherwise,  you  may  be  called  upon, 
when  you  least  expect  it,  to  make  payment  a hundred-fold. 
Be  liberal,  affable  and  kind;  but,  know  that  you  can- 
not do  more  injury  to  society  than  by  greatly  injuring 
yourself,  exercise  a just  caution  in  giving  way  to  the  solic- 
itation of  your  friends.  Never  be  too  ready  to  convince 
yourself  that  it  is  right  to  involve  yourself  largely,  in 
order  to  help  any  person  into  a particular  station  in  society; 
rather  let  him  begin  at  the  bottom,  and  he  will  be  all  the 
better  fitted  for  his  place  when  he  reaches  it,  by  having 
fought  his  way  up  through  the  lower  stages. 

Those  who  are  not  willing  to  depend  on  themselves,  to 
stand  and  walk  alone,  whenever  and  wherever  required, 
must  be  content  with  the  salary  of  a clerk  or  some  subor- 


238 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


dinate  position.  They  can  never  hope  to  manage  a large 
business  successfully.  It  will  not  do  to  be  a mere  imitator 
of  others,  or  to  rely  upon  the  advice  of  business  friends. 
You  must  know  what  to  do,  how  to  do  it,  when  to  do  it, 
and  be  able  to  strike  the  blow  at  the  proper  moment,  and 
with  the  confidence  of  success.  You  must  be  somebody 
yourself!  All  great,  all  successful,  men,  have  been  self- 
reliant.  Men  are  not  leaning  willows,  but  can  and  must 
detach  themselves.  With  the  exercise  of  self-trust,  new 
powers  appear.  We  grow  strong  by  expending  our 
strength  in  manly  conflict  with  the  labors  which  confront 
us,  “The  gods  help  those  who  help  themselves.” 

Though  one  must  be  wholly  absorbed  to  win  success,  still 
singleness  of  aim  by  no  means  implies  monotony  of  action; 
but  if  we  would  be  felt  on  this  stirring  planet,  if  we  would 
strike  the  world  with  lasting  force,  we  must  be  men  of  one 
thing.  Having  found  the  thing  we  have  to  do  we  muse 
throw  into  it  all  the  energies  of  our  being,  seeking  its  accom- 
plishment at  whatever  hazard  or  sacrifice.  But  that  does 
not  prevent  us  from  participating  in  the  enjoyments  of  life. 
If  you  are  sent  on  business  to  some  foreign  land,  though 
bent  on  business,  still  you  can  admire,  as  you  hurry  along, 
the  beautiful  scenery  from  the  car  windows;  you  can  note  the 
strange  places  through  which  you  pass;  you  can  observe  the 
wondrous  sublimity  of  the  ocean  without  being  distracted 
from  the  main  objects  of  your  travels.  So  it  is  not  to  be 
inferred  from  what  has  been  said  that  concentration  means 
isolation  or  self -absorption.  There  may"*  be  a hundred 
accessories  in  life,  provided  they  contribute  to  one  result. 

In  urging  the  importance  of  concentration,  and  of  stick- 
ing to  one  thing,  we  do  not  mean  that  any  man  should  be  a 
mere  lawyer,  a mere  doctor,  or  a mere  merchant  or  mechanic, 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


239 


and  nothing  more.  These  are  cases  of  one-sidedness 
pushed  too  far.  There  is  no  more  pitiable  wreck  than  the 
man  whose  one  giant  faculty  has  drowned  the  rest.  Man 
dwarfs  himself  if  he  pushes  too  far  the  doctrine  of  the  sub- 
division of  labor.  Success  is  purchased  too  dear  if  to  attain 
it  one  has  subordinated  all  his  faculties  and  taste  to  one 
master  passion,  and  become  transformed  into  a head,  a 
hand,  or  an  arm,  instead  of  a man,  Every  man  ought  to  be 
something  more  than  a factor  in  some  grand  formula  of 
social  or  economical  science,  a cog  or  pulley  in  some  grand 
machine. 

Let  every  one  take  care,  first  of  all,  to  be  a man,  cultivat- 
ing and  developing,  as  far  as  possible,  all  of  his  powers  on 
a symmetrical  plan;  and  then  let  him  expend  his  chief 
labors  on  the  one  faculty,  which  nature,  by  making  it 
prominent,  has  given  a hint  should  be  especially  cultivated. 
There  is,  indeed,  no  profession  upon  which  a high  degree  of 
knowledge  will  not  continually  bear.  Things  which,  at  first 
glance,  seem  most  remote  from  it  will  often  be  brought  into 
close  approximation  to  it,  and  acquisitions  which  the  nar- 
row-minded might  deem  a hindrance  will  sooner  or  later 
yield  something  serviceable.  Nothing  is  more  beautiful 
than  to  see  a man  hold  his  art,  trade,  or  calling  in  an  easy, 
disengaged  way,  wearing  it  as  the  soldier  does  his  sw^ord, 
which,  once  laid  aside,  the  accomplished  soldier  gives  you 
no  hint  that  he  has  ever  worn.  Too  often  this  is  not  the 
case,  and  the  shop-keeper  irresistibly  reminds  you  of  the 
shop,  and  the  scholar,  who  should  remind  you  that  he  has 
been  on  Parnassus  only  by  the  odors  of  the  flowers  he  has 
crushed,  which  cling  to  his  feet,  affronts  you  with  a nosegay 
stuck  in  his  bosom. 

One  can  make  all  his  energies  bear  on  one  important 


240 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


point  and  yet  show  himself  a man  among  men  by  his  interest 
in  matters  of  public  concern.  He  can  endear  himself  to  the 
community  by  kindly  acts  to  the  distressed,  as  well  as  com- 
pletely mastering  in  all  its  bearings,  the  one  great  work 
which  he  has  taken  upon  himself  as  his  life’s  work.  Then 
take  up  your  task.  Remember  that  you  must  marshall  all 
your  forces  at  one  point,  and  move  in  one  direction,  if  you 
would  accomplish  what  your  desires  have  painted;  but  also 
remember  that  you  are  a human  being,  and  not  a machine, 
and  that  as  you  pass  on  the  journey  of  life  you  should,  as 
far  as  possible,  without  insuring  defeat,  take  more  of  the 
wonders  which  nature  has  spread  before  you,  should  ponder 
on  what  history  says  of  the  past,  should  muse  over  the 
solemn  import  of  life,  and  thus,  while  winning  laurels  for 
your  brow,  and  achieving  your  heart’s  desire,  develop  in  you 
the  faculties  which  go  to  make,  in  its  complete  meaning,  a 
man  or  woman. 

There  is  one  quality  of  mind  which  of  all  others  is  most 
likely  to  make  our  fortunes  if  combined  with  talents,  or  to 
ruin  them  without  it.  We  allude  to  that  quality  of  the  mind 
which  under  given  circumstances  acts  with  a mathematical 
precision.  With  such  minds  to  resolve  and  to  act  is  instan- 
taneous. They  seem  to  precede  the  march  of  events,  to 
foresee  results  in  the  chrysalis  of  their  causes,  and  to  seize 
that  moment  for  exertion  which  others  use  in  deliberation. 
There  are  occasions  when  action  must  be  taken  at  once. 
There  is  no  time  to  long  and  carefully  calculate  the  chances. 
The  occasion  calls  for  immediate  action;  and  the  call  must 
be  met,  or  the  time  goes  by,  and  our  utmost  exertions  cannot 
bring  it  back.  At  such  times  is  seen  the  triumph  of  those 
who  have  carefully  trained  all  their  faculties  to  a habit  of 
decision.  They  seize  the  occasion,  and  make  the  thought 
start  into  instant  action;  they  at  once  plan  and  perform, 
resolve  and  execute. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


241 


It  is  but  a truism  to  say  there  can  be  no  success  in  life 
without  decision  of  character.  Even  brains  are  secondary 
in  importance  to  will.  The  intellect  is  but  the  half  of  a 
man;  the  will  is  the  driving-wheel,  the  spring  of  motive 
power.  A vacillating  man,  no  matter  what  his  abilities,  is 
invariably  pushed  aside  in  the  race  of  life  by  one  deter- 
mined will.  It  is  he  who  resolves  to  succeed,  and  at  every 
fresh  rebuff  begins  resolutely  again,  that  reaches  the  goal. 
The  shores  of  fortune  are  covered  with  the  stranded  wrecks 
of  men  of  brilliant  abilities,  but  who  have  wanted  courage, 
faith  and  decision,  and  have  therefore  perished  in  sight  of 
more  resolute,  but  less  capable  adventurers,  who  succeeded 
in  making  port.  Hundreds  of  men  go  to  their  graves  in 
obscurity  who  have  remained  obscure  only  because  they 
lacked  the  pluck  to  make  the  first  effort  and  who,  could  they 
only  have  resolved  to  begin,  would  have  astonished  the 
world  by  their  achievements  and  successes. 

To  do  anything  in  this  world  that  is  worth  doing  we  must 
not  stand  shivering  on  the  bank,  and  thinking  of  the  cold 
and  the  danger,  but  jump  in  and  scramble  through  as  well 
as  we  can.  The  world  was  not  made  for  slow,  squeamish, 
fastidious  men,  but  for  those  who  act  promptly  and  with 
power.  Obstacles  and  perplexities  every  man  must  either 
conquer  or  they  will  conquer  him.  Hesitation  is  a sign 
of  weakness,  for  inasmuch  as  the  comparative  good  and 
evil  of  the  different  modes  of  action  about  which  we  hesitate 
are  seldom  equally  balanced,  a strong  mind  should  perceive 
the  slightest  inclination  of  the  beam  with  the  glance  of  an 
eagle,  particularly  as  there  will  be  cases  where  the  prepon- 
derance will  be  very  minute^  even  though  there  should  be 
life  in  one  scale  and  death  in  the  other.  It  is  better  occas- 
ionally to  decide  wrong  than  to  be  forever  wavering  and 


242 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


hesitating,  now  veering  to  this  side  and  then  to  that,  with  all 
the  misery  and  disaster  that  follow  from  continual  doubt. 

It  has  been  truly  said  the  great  moral  victories  and  defeats 
of  the  world  often  turn  on  minutes.  Fortune  is  proverbially 
a fickle  jade,  and  there  is  nothing  like  promptness  of  action, 
the  timing  of  things  at  the  lucky  moment,  to  force  her  to 
surrender  her  favors.  Crises  come,  the  seizing  of  which  is 
triumph,  the  neglect  of  which  is  ruin.  It  is  this  lack  of 
promptness,  so  characteristic  of  the  gladiatorial  intellect  of 
this  readiness  to  meet  every  attack  of  ill-fortune  with  counter 
resources  of  evasion,  which  causes  so  many  defeats  of  life 

There  is  a race  of  narrow  wits  that  never  succeed  for  want 
of  courage.  Their  understanding  is  of  that  halting,  hesitat- 
ing kind,  which  gives  just  light  enough  to  see  difficulties 
and  start  doubts,  but  not  enough  to  surmount  the  one  or 
remove  the  other.  They  do  not  know  what  force  of  char- 
acter means.  They  seem  to  have  no  backbone,  but  only  the 
mockery  of  a vertebral  column  made  of  india-rubber,  equally 
pliant  in  all  directions.  They  come  and  go  like  shadows, 
sandwich  their  sentences  with  apologies,  are  overtaken  by 
events  while  still  irresolute,  and  let  the  tide  ebb  before  they 
feebly  push  off.  Always  brooding  over  their  plans,  but 
never  executing  them.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  conceive 
of  a more  unhappy  man  than  one  afflicted  with  this  infirmity. 
It  has  been  remarked  that  there  are  persons  who  lack  decis- 
ion to  such  a degree  that  they  seem  never  to  have  made  up 
their  mind  which  leg  to  stand  upon;  who  deliberate  in  an 
agony  of  choice  when  not  a grain’s  weight  depends  upon 
the  decision  or  the  question  w”hat  road  to  walk  upon,  what 
bundle  of  hay  to  munch  first;  to  be  undetermined  where  the 
case  is  plain  and  the  necessity  so  urgent;  to  be  always  in- 
tending to  lead  a new  life,  but  never  finding  time  to  set 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


243 


about  it.  There  is  nothing  more  pitiable  in  the  world  than 
such  an  irresolute  man  thus  oscillating  between  extremes, 
who  would  willingly  join  the  two,  but  does  not  perceive  that 
nothing  can  unite  them. 

Indecision  is  a slatternly  housewife,  by  whose  fault  the 
moth  and  rust  are  allowed  to  make  such  dull  work  of  life. 
“A  man  without  decision,’'  says  John  Foster,  ‘‘can  never  be 
said  to  belong  to  himself,  since  if  he  dared  to  assert  that  he 
did  the  puny  force  of  some  cause  about  as  powerful,  you 
would  have  supposed,  as  a spider,  may  make  a seizure  of 
the  unhappy  boaster  the  very  next  minute,  and  contempt- 
uously exhibit  the  futility  of  the  determinations  by  which  he 
was  to  have  proved  the  independence  of  his  understanding 
and  will.  He  belongs  to  whatever  can  make  capture  of  him; 
and  one  thing  after  another  vindicates  its  right  to  him  by 
arresting  him  while  he  is  trying  to  proceed,  as  twigs  and 
chips  floating  near  the  edge  of  a river  are  intercepted  by 
every  weed,  and  whirled  in  every  little  eddy.  Having  con- 
cluded on  a design,  he  may  pledge  himself  to  accomplish  it, 
if  the  hundred  diversities  of  feeling  which  may  come  within 
the  week  will  let  him.  His  character  precludes  all  foresight 
of  his  conduct.  He  may  sit  and  wonder  what  form  and 
direction  his  views  and  actions  are  destined  to  take  to- 
morrow, as  a farmer  has  often  to  acknowledge  that  next 
day's  proceedings  are  at  the  disposal  of  its  winds  and  clouds. 

A great  deal  of  the  unhappiness  and  much  of  the  vice  of 
the  world  is  owing  to  weakness  and  indecision  of  purpose. 
The  will,  which  is  the  central  force  of  character,  must  be 
trained  to  habits  of  decision;  otherwise  it  will  neither  be  able 
to  resist  evil  nor  to  follow  good.  Decision  gives  the  power 
of  standing  firmly  when  to  yield,  however  slightly,  might  be 
only  the  first  step  in  a down-hill  course  to  ruin.  Calling 


244 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


upon  others  for  help  in  forming  a decision  is  worse  than  use- 
less. A man  must  so  train  his  habits  as  to  rely  upon  his 
own  courage  in  moments  of  emergency.  Many  are  the 
valiant  purposes  formed  that  end  merely  in  words;  deeds 
intended  that  are  never  done;  designs  projected  that  are 
never  begun;  and  all  for  the  want  of  a little  courageous 
decision.  Better  far  the  silent  tongue,  but  the  eloquent 
deed;  and  the  most  decisive  answer  of  all  is  doing.  There  is 
nothing  more  to  be  admired  than  a manly  firmness  and 
decision  of  character.  We  admire  a person  who  knows  his 
own  mind  and  sticks  to  it,  who  sees  at  once  what  is  to  be 
done  in  given  circumstances,  and  does  it. 

There  never  was  a time  in  the  world's  history  that  called 
more  earnestly  upon  all  persons  to  cultivate  a firm,  manly 
decision  of  character,  to  be  able  to  say  No  to  the  seductive 
power  of  temptation.  There  is  no  more  beautiful  trait  of 
character  to  be  found  than  that  of  a determined  will  guided 
by 'right  motives.  To  talk  beautifully  is  one  thing,  but  to 
act  with  promptitude  when  the  time  of  action  has  fully  come 
is  as  far  superior  to  the  former  as  the  brilliant  sunlight  sur- 
passes the  reflection  of  the  moon.  To  train  the  mind  to  act 
with  decision  is  of  no  less  consequence  than  of  acting 
promptly  when  the  decision  is  reached.  Of  all  intellectual 
gifts  bestowed  upon  man  there  is  nothing  more  intoxicating 
than  readiness — the  power  of  calling  all  the  resources  of  the 
mind  into  simultaneous  action  at  a moment’s  notice.  Noth- 
ing strikes  the  unready  as  so  miraculous  as  this  prompti- 
tude in  others;  nothing  impresses  him  with  so  dull  and 
envious  a sense  of  contrast  with  himself.  This  want  of 
decision  is  to  be  laid  on  the  shelf,  to  creep  where  others  fly, 
to  fall  into  permanent  discouragement.  To  possess  decision 
is  to  have  the  mind’s  intellectual  property  put  out  at  fifty  or 
one  hundred  per  cent;  to  be  uncertain  at  the  moment  of  trial 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


245 


is  to  be  dimly  conscious  of  faculties  tied  up  somewhere  in  a 
napkin.  Decision  of  mind,  like  vigor  of  body,  is  a gift  of 
God,  It  cannot  be  created  by  human  effort;  it  can  only  be 
cultivated.  But  every  mind  has  the  germ  of  this  quality, 
which  can  be  strengthened  by  favorable  circumstances  and 
motives  presented  to  the  mind,  and  by  method  and  order  in 
the  prosecution  of  duties  or  tasks. 

But  with  all  that  has  been  urged  in  favo  of  decision  and 
dispatch,  we  would  not  be  understood  as  advising  undue 
haste.  There  are  occasions  when  caution  and  delay  are 
necessary,  when  to  act  without  long  and  careful  deliberation 
would  be  madness.  But  when  the  way  is  clear,  when  there 
is  no  doubt  as  to  what  ought  to  be  done,  then  it  is  that 
decision  demands  that  an  instant  choice  be  made  between 
the  two — not  to  hesitate  too  long  as  to  which,  but  to  decide 
promptly  and  then  move  ahead.  Even  in  cases  where  delib- 
eration and  caution  are  necessary,  decision  demands  that 
the  mind  acts  quickly.  In  a word,  decision  finds  us  en- 
gaged in  a life-battle.  If  the  victory  is  ours,  success  and 
fortune  wait  upon  us;  if  we  are  overthrown,  want  and  misery 
stare  us  in  the  face;  it  is  well  to  make  our  movements  only 
with  caution;  but  when  we  see  a chance  we  must  at  once 
improve  it,  or  it  is  gone.  Occasions  also  arise  when  we 
must  rouse  our  forces  on  an  instant’s  warning,  and  to  make 
movements  for  which  we  have  no  time  to  calculate  the 
chances.  Then  is  seen  the  triumph  of  the  decisive,  ready 
man,  To  falter  is  to  be  lost;  to  move  with  dispatch  is  the 
only  safety. 

There  should  be  no  faltering  when  the  moment  comes  for 
action,  the  fault  lies  in  action  which  is  not  well  considered, 
every  act  and  every  word  should  be  the  result  of  well  consid- 
ered thought;  it  is  thoughtlessness  that  is  to  blame  for  many 
an  hour  spent  in  vain  regrets  over  what  cannot  be  unsaid  or 


246 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


undone.  The  captain  of  the  ocean  steamer  cannot  lose  a 
moment  in  giving  an  order,  but  he  must  spend  years  in  pre- 
paring himself  by  careful  thought  and  study  to  decide 
instantly  what  that  command  must  be.  No  act  or  word  of 
life  is  too  trifling  to  need  thought,  and  the  nature  and  quality 
of  that  thought  is  most  important,  for  “As  a man  thinketh- 
So  is  he.’* 

The  silent  processes  that  are  taking  place  in  the  thoughts 
of  men  are  changing  the  whole  force  of  the  earth,  man  turns 
his  thought  in  the  direction  of  mechanical  invention,  and  we 
have  the  steam  engine  and  the  cotton  gin.  He  thinks  of 
jastice  and  law,  and  at  once  all  the  administration  of  the 
courts  is  reviewed  and  criticised,  and  the  legislatures  make 
new  laws  to  suit  his  advanced  thought.  He  directs  his 
thoughts  to  his  own  nature  and  powers  unseen  before  are 
called  into  action,  and  he  receives  some  idea  of  his  own 
capacities  and  the  possibilities  which  are  within  his  grasp. 
This  thought  and  sent  out  by  the  human  brain  is 

the  mightiest  engine  known  to  man  to  mould  material  things 
to  his  will. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


CULTiV/\TE  SELF-CONFIDENCE 


“I  am  what  I think  I am,  for  what  I think  I am  I gradually 
grow  to  be.”  , 

OTH  poetry  and  philosophy  are  prodigal  of  eulogy  over 
the  mind  which  rescues  itself,  by  its  own  energy,  from 
a captivity  to  custom,  which  breaks  the  common  bonds 
of  empire  and  cuts  a Simplon  over  mountain  s of  difficulty  for 
its  own  purposes,  whether  of  good  or  of  evil.  We  cannot 
help  admiring  such  a character.  It  is  a positive  relief  to 
turn  from  a contemplation  of  those  relying  on  some  one  else 
for  a solution  of  the  difficulties  that  surround  them  to  those 
who  are  strong  in  their  own  self-reliance,  who,  when  con. 
fronted  with  fresh  trials  and  difficulties,  only  put  on  a more 
determined  mien,  and  more  resolutely  apply  their  own 
powers  to  remove  the  obstacles  so  unexpectedly  put  in  their 
way.  There  is  no  surer  sign  of  an  unmanly  and  cowardly 
spirit  than  a vague  desire  for  help,  a wish  to  depend,  to  lean 
upon  somebody  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  the  industry  of  others. 

In  the  assurance  of  strength  there  is  strengt  h,  and  they 
are  the  weakest,  however  strong,  who  have  no  faith  in  them- 
selves or  their  powers.  Men  often  conquer  difficulties  be- 

247 


248 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


cause  they  think  they  can.  Their  confidence  in  themselves 
inspires  confidence  in  others.  The  man  who  makes 
every  thing  that  conduces  to  happiness  to  depend  upon 
himself,  and  not  upon  other  men,  on  whose  good  or 
evil  actions  his  own  doings  are  compelled  to  hinge,  has 
adopted  the  very  best  plan  for  living  happily.  This  is 
the  man  for  moderation,  the  possessor  of  manly  char- 
acter and  wisdom.  By  self-reliance  is  not  meant  self- 
conceit.  The  two  are  widely  different.  Self-reliance  is 
cognizant  of  all  the  ills  of  earthly  existence,  and  it  rests  on 
a rational  consciousness  of  power  to  contend  with  them.  It 
counts  the  cost  of  the  conflict  with  real  life,  and  calmly  con- 
cludes that  it  is  able  to  meet  the  foes  which  stand  in  frown- 
ing array  on  the  world’s  great  battle-field.  Self-conceit,  on 
the  other  hand,  is  a vainglorious  assertion  of  power.  It 
knows  not  the  real  difficulties  it  has  to  contend  with,  and  is 
too  supercilious  to  inquire  into  them.  It  rejects  well-meant 
offers  of  counsel  or  assistance.  It  feels  above  taking  advice. 
The  unhappy  possessor  of  such  a trait  of  character  is  far 
from  being  a self-reliant  man. 

It  has  been  said  God  never  intended  that  strong,  indepen- 
dent beings  should  be  reared  by  clinging  to  others,  like  the 
ivy  to  the  oak,  for  support.  The  difficulties,  hardships  and 
trials  of  life — the  obstacles  one  encounters  on  the  road  to 
fortune — are  positive  blessings.  They  knit  his  muscles 
firmly,  and  teach  him  self-reliance,  just  as  by  wrestling  with 
an  athlete  who  is  superior  to  us  we  increase  our  own  strength 
and  learn  the  secret  of  his  skill.  All  difficulties  come  to  us, 
as  Bunyan  says  of  temptation,  like  the  lion  which  met  Samp- 
son, the  first  time  we  encounter  them  they  roar  and  gnash 
their  teeth,  but  once  subdued  we  find  a nest  of  honey  in 
them.  Peril  is  the  very  element  in  which  power  is  devel- 
oped, Don’t  rely  upon  your  friends,  nor  rely  upon  the  name 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


249 


of  your  ancestor.  Thousands  have  spent  the  prime  of  life 
in  the  vain  hope  of  help  from  those  whom  they  called  friends, 
and  many  thousands  have  starved  because  they  had  a rich 
father. 

Rely  upon  the  good  name  which  is  made  by  your  own 
exertions,  and  know  that  better  than  the  best  friend  you  can 
have  is  unconquerable  determination  of  spirit,  united  with 
decision  of  character.  Seek  such  attainments  as  will  enable 
you  to  confide  in  yourself,  to  rise  equal  to  your  emergencies. 
Strive  to  acquire  an  inward  principle  of  self-support.  Help 
yourself  and  heaven  will  help  you,  should  be  the  motto  of 
every  man  who  would  make  himself  useful  in  the  world  or 
carve  his  way  to  riches  and  honor.  It  is  an  old  saying,  “He 
who  has  lost  confidence  can  lose  nothing  more.”  The  man 
who  dares  not  follow  his  own  independent  judgement,  but 
runs  perpetually  to  others  for  advice,  becomes  at  last  a 
moral  weakling  and  an  intellectual  dwarf.  Such  a man  has 
not  self  within  him,  and  believes  in  no  self,  but  goes  as  a 
suppliant  to  others  and  entreats  of  them,  one  after  another, 
to  lend  him  theirs.  He  is,  in  fact,  a mere  element  of  a hu- 
man being,  and  is  borne  about  the.  world  an  insignificant 
cipher,  unless  he  desperately  fastens  to  other  floating  and 
supplementary  elements,  with  which  he  may  form  a species 
of  incorporation  resembling  a man.  Any  young  man  who 
will  thus  part  with  freedom  and  the  self-respect  that  grows 
out  of  self  reliance  and  self-support  is  unmanly,  neither 
deserving  of  assistance  nor  capable  of  making  good  use  of  it. 

Hardship  is  the  native  soil  of  manhood  and  self-reliance. 
Opposition  is  what  we  want  and  must  have  to  be  good  for 
anything.  Men  seem  neither  to  understand  their  riches  nor 
their  own  strength.  Of  the  former  they  believe  greater 
things  than  they  should,  of  the  latter  much  less.  Self- 
reliance  and  self-denial  will  teach  a man  to  drink  of  his  own 


250 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


cistern,  and  eat  bread  from  his  own  kitchen,  and  learn  to 
labor  truly  to  get  his  living,  and  carefully  to  expend  the  good 
things  committed  to  his  care.  Every  youth  should  be  made 
to  feel  that  if  he  would  get  through  the  world  usefully  and 
happily  h*e  must  rely  mainly  upon  himself  and  his  own  inde 
pendent  energies.  Young  men  should  never  hear  any  lan- 
guage but  this:  “You  have  your  own  way  to  make,  and  it 

depends  upon  your  exertion  whether  you  starve  or  not.  Out- 
side help  is  your  greatest  curse.  It  handicaps  efforts,  stifles 
aspirations,  shuts  the  door  upon  emulation,  turns  the  key 
upon  energy.”  The  custom  of  making  provisions  to  assist 
worthy  young  men  in  obtaining  an  education  is  often  a posi- 
tive evil  to  the  recipient.  The  germ  of  self-reliant  energy, 
which  else  would  have  done  so  much  for  his  material  good, 
is  stifled  in  its  growth  by  the  mistaken  kindness  of  benevo- 
lent beings.  And  no  mental  acqusitions  can  compensate 
any  young  man  for  loss  of  self-reliance. 

It  is  not  the  men  who  have  been  reared  in  affluence  who  have 
left  the  most  enduring  traces  on  the  world.  It  is  not  in  the 
sheltered  garden  or  the  hot-house,  but  on  the  rugged  Alpine 
cliffs,  where  the  storms  beat  most  violently,  that  the  toughest 
plants  are  reared.  Men  who  are  trained  to  self-reliance  aie 
ready  to  go  out  and  contend  in  the  sternest  conflicts  of  life, 
while  those  who  have  always  leaned  for  support  on  others 
around  them  are  never  prepared  to  breast  the  storms  of  ad- 
versity that  arise.  Self-reliance  is  more  than  a passive  trust 
in  one’s  own  powers.  It  shows  itself  in  an  active  manner;  it 
demonstrates  itself  in  works.  It  is  not  ashamed  of  its  pre- 
tentions, but  invites  inspection  and  asks  recognition.  Be- 
cause there  is  danger  of  invoicing  yourself  above  your  real 
value,  it  does  not  follow  that  you  should  always  underrate 
your  worth.  Because  to  be  conspicuous,  honored,  and  known 
you  should  not  retire  upon  the  center  of  your  own  conscious 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


251 


resources,  you  need  not  necessarily  be  always  at  the  circum- 
ference. An  excess  of  modesty  is  well-nigh  as  bad  as  an 
excess  of  pride,  for  it  is,  in  fact,  an  excess  of  pride  in  another 
form,  though  it  is  questionable  if  this  be  not  more  hurtful  to 
the  individual  and  less  beneficial  to  society  than  gross  and 
unblushing  vanity. 

No  man  can  tell  what  he  can  do  until  he  tries.  It  is  im- 
possible to  calculate  the  extent  of  human  powers;  that  can 
only  be  ascertained  by  experiment.  What  has  been  accom- 
plished by  parties  and  by  solitary  individuals  in  the  torrid 
and  frozen  regions,  under  circumstances  the  most  difficult 
and  appalling,  should  teach  us  that,  when  we  ought  to 
attempt,  we  should  not  despair.  The  reason  why  men 
oftener  succeed  in  overcoming  uncommon  difficulties  than 
ordinary  ones,  is,  that  in  the  first  case  they  call  into  action 
the  whole  of  their  resources,  and  that  in  the  last  they  act 
upon  calculation,  and  generally  undercalculate.  Where 
there  is  no  retreat,  and  the  whole  energy  is  forward,  the 
chances  are  in  favor  of  success;  but  a backward  look  is  full 
of  danger.  Confidence  of  success  is  almost  success,  and 
obstacles  often  fall  of  themselves  before  a determination  to 
overcome  them.  There  is  something  in  confidence  which 
has  an  influence  beyond  itself,  and  it  marches  on  like  a 
mighty  lord  among  its  slaves;  all  is  prostration  where  it 
appears.  When  bent  on  good,  it  is  almost  the  noblest 
attribute  of  man.  It  is  by  confidence  that  men  succeed  in 
any  great  enterprise;  impulses  are  not  sufficient.  What  is 
done  at  the  moment,  is  undone  the  next;  and  a step  forward 
is  nothing  gained  unless  it  is  followed  up. 

To  the  young  v/ho  have  to  make  their  own  way  in  their 
avocations,  nothing  can  be  more  useful  than  frequent  coun- 
sel on  the  duty  and  necessity  of  regarding  all  obstacles  on 
the  road  as  things  to  be  grappled  with  a bold  determination 


252 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


to  coi^quer  them  manfully.  One  may  not  succeed;  but  if 
he  does,  it  is  sweet  to  look  back  upon  the  heaps  of  briers 
and  hurdles  through  which  he  has  forced  a passage  by. 
Hence,  the  greater  the  difficulty  the  more  glory  there  is  in 
surmounting  it.  So  skillful  pilots  gain  their  reputation  from 
storms  and  tempests.  Difficulty  is  a severe  instructor,  set 
over  us  by  the  supreme  ordinance  of  a parental  Guardian 
and  Legislator,  who  knows  us  better  than  we  know  ourselves, 
as  he  loves  us  better,  too.  He  that  wrestles  with  us, 
strengthens  our  nerves  and  sharpens  our  skill;  our  antagonist 
is  bur  helper.  This  amicable  contest  with  difficulty  forces 
us  to  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  ourselves,  a better 
knowledge  of  our  capacities  and  our  powers. 

Loss  of  confidence  in  business  men  causes  failure  of  banks 
and  commercial  crises.  Business  could  not  be  transacted, 
the  wheels  of  toil  would  stop,  the  furnace  fires  would  go  out, 
and  want  be  everywhere,  from  hovel  to  palace,  if  credit  and 
confidence  were  lost  among  business  men.  It  is  confidence 
that  sends  ships  to  the  dim  corners  of  the  world;  from  the 
confidence  of  business  men  in  each  other,  a little  scrap  of 
paper  with  a name  on  it,  will  circulate  in  and  out  of  a hun- 
dred  business  vaults,  representing,  it  may  be,  thousands  of 
dollars.  It  is  confidence  that  drives  the  plane,  the  chisel^ 
the  brush;  that  turns  the  countless  wheels  of  industry;  that 
helps  overcome  opposition;  that  is  the  very  essence  of  pluck 
and  grit, — the  angel  of  your  higher  powers  that  leads  you 
down  to  the  sweet,  still  valley  of  peace  and  prosperity. 

The  conclusion  of  the  matter  is,  that  in  this  busy,  bustling 
period  of  the  world's  history,  confidence  is  almost  an  essen- 
tial trait  of  character  in  one  who  means  to  get  along  well  in 
business,  and  win  his  way  to  success  and  fortune.  He  must 
remember  that  he  cannot  expect  to  have  people  repose  con- 
fidence in  his  ability  and  his  integrity,  unless  he  displays 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


253 


confidence  in  himself.  If  poverty  be  his  lot,  and  embarrass- 
ments and  discouragements  of  all  kinds  press  upon  him,  let 
him  take  heart  and  push  resolutely  ahead,  cultivating  a 
strong,  self-reliant  disposition,  and  the  confidence  of  others 
will  soon  be  acquired.  By  so  doing  he  will  rise  superior  to 
misfortune.  He  will  learn  to  rely  on  his  own  resources,  to 
look  within  himself  for  the  means  wherewith  to  combat  the 
competition  that  presses  upon  him.  By  such  a course  of 
action,  he  takes  the  road  which  most  surely  leads  to  worth 
and  wealth. 

It  is  true,  we  all  patronize  humility  in  the  abstract,  and, 
when  enshrined  in  another,  we  admire  it.  It  is  a pleasure 
to  meet  a man  who  does  not  pique  our  vanity,  or  thrust 
himself  between  us  and  the  object  of  our  pretensions.  There 
is  no  one  who,  if  questioned,  would  not  be  found  in  the 
depths  of  his  heart  secretly  to  prefer  the  modest  man,  pro- 
portionally despising  the  swaggerer  “who  goes  unbidden  to 
the  head  of  the  feast.’*  But  while  such  is  our  deliberate 
verdict  when  taken  to  task  in  the  matter,  it  is  not  the  one 
we  practically  give.  The  man  who  entertains  a good,  stout 
opinion  of  himself  always  contrives  somehow  to  cheat  us  out 
of  a corresponding  one,  and  we  are  too  apt  to  acquiesce  in 
his  assumption,  even  though  they  may  strike  us  unpleasantly. 
Nor  need  this  excite  our  surprise.  The  great  mass  of  men 
have  no  time  to  examine  the  merits  of  others.  They  are 
busy  about  their  own  affairs,  which  claim  all  their  attention. 
They  cannot  go  about  hunting  modest  worth  in  every  nook 
and  corner.  Those  who  would  secure  their  good  opinion 
must  come  forward  with  their  claims,  and  at  least  show  their 
own  confidence  by  backing  them  with  vigorous  assertions. 

If,  therefore,  a man  of  fair  talents  arrays  his  pretensions 
before  us,  if  he  insists  and  persists  for  an  admission  of  his 
merits,  obtruding  them  upon  us,  we  are  forced  at  last  to  notice 


254 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


them,  and,  unless  he  fairly  disgusts  us  by  the  extravagance 
of  his  claims,  shocking  all  sense  of  decency,  we  are  inclined 
to  admit  them,  even  in  preference  to  superior  merits,  which 
their  possessor  by  his  own  actions  seem  to  underrate.  It  is 
too  often  cant  by  which  indolent  and  irresolute  men  seek  to 
lay  their  want  of  success  at  the  door  of  the  public.  Well- 
matured  and  well-disciplined  talent  is  always  sure  of  a 
market,  provided  it  exerts  itself;  but  it  must  not  cower  at 
home  and  expect  to  be  sought  after.  There  is  a good  deal 
of  cant,  too,  about  the  successes  of  forward  and  impudent 
men,  while  men  of  retiring  worth  are  overlooked.  But  it 
usually  happens  that  those  forward  men  have  that  valuable 
quality  of  promptness  and  activity,  without  which  worth  is  a 
mere  inoperative  quality. 

The  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter  is,  that  in  this  busy, 
bustling  period  of  the  world's  history  self-confidence  is  almost 
an  essential  trait  of  character  in  one  who  means  to  get  along 
well  and  win  his  way  to  success  and  fortune.  This  may 
exist  entirely  independent  of  self-conceit,  the  two  being  by 
no  means  necessa,rily  concomitant.  He  must  remember  that 
he  cannot  expect  to  have  people  repose  confidence  in  his 
ability  unless  he  displays  confidence  in  them  himself.  If 
poverty  be  his  lot,  and  troubles  and  discouragements  of  all 
kinds  press  upon  him,  let  him  take  heart  and  push  resolutely 
ahead,  cultivating  a strong,  self-reliant  disposition.  By  so 
doing  he  will  rise  superior  to  misfortune.  He  will  learn  to 
rely  on  his  own  resources,  to  look  within  himself  for  the 
means  wherewith  to  combat  the  ills  that  press  upon  him.  By 
such  a course  of  action  he  takes  the  road  which  most  surely 
leads  to  success. 

It  is  a common  saying  that  the  man  of  practical  ability 
far  surpasses  the  theorist.  Just  what  is  meant  by  practical 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


255 


ability  is,  perhaps,  hard  to  explain.  It  is  more  easy  to  tell 
what  it  is  not  than  what  it  is.  It  recognizes  the  fact  that  life 
is  action;  that  mere  thoughts  and  schemes  will  avail  nothing 
unless  subsequently  wrought  out  in  action.  It  is  an  indes  - 
cribable  quality  which  results  from  a union  of  worldly 
knowledge  with  shrewdness  and  tact.  He  that  sets  out  on 
the  journey  of  life  with  a profound  knowledge  of  books,  but 
with  a shallow  knowledge  of  man,  with  much  of  the  sense 
of  others,  but  with  little  of  his  own,  will  find  himself 
completely  at  a loss  on  occasions  of  common  and  constant 
recurrence. 

Speculative  ability  is  one  thing,  and  practical  ability  is 
another;  and  the  man  who  in  his  study  or  with  his  pen  in 
hand  shows  himself  capable  of  forming  large  views  of  life 
and  policy,  may  in  the  outer  world  be  found  altogether  un- 
fitted for  carrying  them  into  practical  effect.  Speculative 
ability  depends  on  vigorous  thinking,  practical  ability  in 
vigorious  acting,  and  the  two  qualities  are  usually  found 
combined  in  very  unequal  proportions.  The  speculative 
man  is  prone  to  indecision;  he  sees  all  sides  of  a question, 
and  his  action  becomes  suspended  in  nicely  weighing  the 
arguments  for  and  against,  which  are  often  found  nearly  to 
balance  each  other;  whereas  the  practical  man  overleaps 
logical  preliminaries  and  arrives  at  certain  definite  convic- 
tions, and  proceeds  forthwith  to  carry  his  policy  into  action. 
The  mere  theorist  rarely  displays  practical  ability;  and,  con- 
versely, the  practical  man  rarely  displays  a high  degree  of 
speculative  wisdom.  If  you  try  to  carve  a stone  with  a 
razor,  the  razor  will  lose  its  edge,  and  the  stone  remain 
uncut.  A high  education,  unless  it  is  practical  as  well  as 
classical,  often  unfits  a man  for  contest  with  his  fellow-man. 
Intellectual  culture,  if  carried  beyond  a certain  point,  is  too 


256 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


often  purchased  at  the  expense  of  moral  vigor.  It  gives 
edge  and  splendor  to  a man,  but  draws  out  all  his  temper. 

In  all  affairs  of  life,  but  more  especially  in  those  great 
enterprises  which  require  the  co-operation  of  others,  a knowl- 
edge of  men  is  indispensable.  This  knowledge  implies  not 
only  quickness  of  penetration  and  sagacity,  but  many  other 
superior  elements  of  character;  for  it  is  important  to  perceive 
not  merely  in  whom  we  can  confide,  but  to  maintain  that 
influence  over  them  which  secures  their  good  faith  and 
defeats  the  unworthy  purpose  of  a wavering  and  dishonest 
mind.  The  world  always  laughs  at  those  failures  which 
arise  from  weakness  of  judgment  and  defects  of  penetration 
Practical  wisdom  is  only  to  be  learned  in  the  school  of  ex- 
perience. Precepts  and  instruction  are  useful  so  far  as  they 
go;  but  without  the  discipline  of  real  life  they  remain  of  the 
nature  of  theories  only.  The  hard  facts  of  existence  give 
that  touch  of  truth  to  character  which  can  never  be  im- 
parted by  reading  and  tuition,  but  only  by  contact  with  the 
broad  instincts  of  common  men  and  women. 

Intellectual  training  is  to  be  prized,  but  practical  knowl- 
edge is  neccessary  to  make  it  available.  Experience  gained 
from  books,  however  valuable,  is  of  the  nature  of  learning; 
experience  gained  from  outward  life  is  wisdom;  and  an  ounce 
of  the  latter  is  worth  a pound  of  the  former.  Rich  mental 
endowments,  thorough  culture,  great  genius,  brilliant  parts 
have  often  existed  in  company  with  very  glaring  deficiencies 
in  what  may  be  called  good  judgment;  while  there  is  a cer- 
tain stability  of  judgment  and  soundness  of  understanding 
often  displayed  by  those  who  have  not  an  extensive  educa- 
tion. The  old  sailor  knows  nothing  of  nautical  astronomy. 
Azimuths,  right  ascensions,  and  the  solution  of  spherical 
triangles  have  no  charm  and  little  meaning  to  him.  But  he 
can  scan  the  seas  and  skies  and  warn  of  coming  danger  with 


OR.  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


257 


a natural  wisdom  which  all  the  keen  intellect  and  ready 
mathematics  of  the  young  lieutenant  do  not  afford.  The 
man  who  has  traveled  much  accumulates  a store  of  useful 
information,  and  can  give  hints  of  practioal  wisdom  which 
no  deep  study  of  geological  lore  or  of  antiquarian  research 
could  afford.  The  student  of  life  rather  than  of  books 
gains  an  understanding  by  experience  for  which  no  store  of 
erudition  can  prove  an  adequate  compensation.  The  true 
order  of  learning  should  be,  first,  what  is  necessary;  second, 
what  is  useful;  and  third,  what  is  ornamental.  To  reverse 
this  arrangement  is  like  beginning  to  build  at  the  top  of  the 
edifice.  Practical  ability  depends  in  a large  measure  on  the 
employment  of  what  is  known  as  common  sense,  which  is 
the  average  sensibility  and  intelligence  of  men  undisturbed 
by  individual  peculiarities.  Fine  sense  and  exalted  sense 
are  not  half  as  useful  as  common  sense.  There  are  forty 
men  of  wit  for  one  man  of  sense,  and  he  that  will  carry  noth- 
ing but  gold  will  be  every  day  at  a loss  for  readier  change. 

The  height  of  ability  consists  in  a thorough  knowledge  of 
the  real  value  of  things  and  of  the  genius  of  the  age  we  live 
in,  and  could  we  know  by  what  strange  circumstances  a 
man’s  genius  becomes  prepared  for  practical  success,  we 
should  discover  that  the  most  serviceable  items  in  his  edu- 
cation were  never  entered  in  the  bills  his  father  paid  for. 
That  knowledge  of  the  world  which  inculcates  strict  vigilance 
in  regard  to  our  individual  interests  and  representation, 
which  recommends  the  mastery  of  things  to  be  held  in  our 
own  hands,  or  which  enables  us  to  live  undamaged  by  the 
skillful  maneuvers  and  crafty  plots  of  plausible  men  on  the 
one  hand  or  uncontaminated  by  the  depravities  of  unprin- 
cipled ones  on  the  other,  is  of  daily  acquisition  and  equally 
accessible  to  all. 


258 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


The  most  learned  of  men  do  not  always  make  the  best  of 
teachers;  the  lawyer  who  has  achieved  a classical  education 
is  not  always  the  most  successful.  The  men  who  have 
wielded  power  have  not  always  been  graduates.  Brindley 
and  Stephenson  did  not  learn  to  read  and  write  until  they 
were  twenty  years  old;  yet  the  one  gave  England  her  rail- 
roads, and  the  other  her  canals.  The  great  inventor  is  one 
who  has  walked  forth  upon  the  industrial  world,  not  from 
universities,  but  from  hovels,  not  as  clad  in  silks  and  decked 
with  honors,  hut  as  clad  in  fustian  and  grimed  with  soot  and 
oiU  It  is  not  known  where  he  who  invented  the  plow  was 
born,  or  where  he  died;  yet  he  has  effected  more  for  the  hap- 
piness of  the  world  than  the  whole  race  of  heroes  and  con- 
querors who  drenched  it  in  tears  and  blood,  whose  birth, 
parentage,  and  education  have  been  handed  down  to  us  with 
a precision  proportionate  to  the  mischief  they  have  done. 
Mankind  owes  more  of  its  real  happiness  to  this  humble  in- 
ventor than  to  some  of  the  most  acute  minds  in  the  realm  of 
literature. 

Education,  indeed,  accomplishes  wonders  in  fitting  a man 
for  the  work  of  success,  but  we  sometimes  forget  that  it  is  of 
more  consequence  to  have  the  mind  well  disciplined  rather 
than  richly  stored, — strong  rather  than  full.  Every  day  we 
see  men  of  high  culture  distanced  in  the  race  of  life  by  the 
upstart  who  cannot  spell.  The  practical  dunce  outstrips  the 
theorizing  genius.  Life  teems  with  such  illustrations.  Men 
have  ruled  well  who  could  not  confine  a commonwealth;  and 
they  who  did  not  understand  the  shape  of  the  earth  have 
commanded  a greater  portion  of  it.  The  want  of  practical 
talent  in  men  of  fine  intellectual  powers  has  often  excited 
the  wonder  of  the  crowd.  They  are  astonished  that  one  who 
has  grasped,  perhaps,  the  mightiest  themes,  and  shed  a light 
on  the  path  to  be  pursued  by  others,  should  be  unable  to 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


259 


manage  his  own  affairs  with  dexterity.  But  this  is  not 
strange.  Deep  thinking  and  practical  talents  require  habits 
of  mind  almost  entirely  dissimilar,  and  though  they  may,  and 
often  do,  exist  conjointly,  and  while  it  is  the  duty  of  all  to 
strive  to  cultivate  both,  yet  such  is  the  constitution  of  the 
human  mind  that  it  is  apt  to  go  to  extremes.  And  he  who 
accustoms  himself  to  deep  prying  into  nature’s  secrets,  to 
exploring  the  hidden  mysteries  of  the  past,  is  too  apt  to  for- 
get the  practical  details  of  every-day  life,  to  pass  them  by 
with  disgust,  as  altogether  beneath  his  attention.  This  is  an 
error,  and  none  the  less  reprehensible  on  that  account  than 
is  the  conduct  of  those  who  become  so  engrossed  with  the 
practical  affairs  of  their  calling  or  profession  as  to  forget  that 
they  have  a higher  nature,  and  sink  the  man  in  the  pursuit 
of  their  ambitious  dreams. 

A man  who  sees  limitedly  and  clearly  is  both  more  sure 
of  himself  and  is  more  direct  in  dealing  with  circumstances 
and  with  men  than  is  a man  who  has  a large  horizon  of 
thought,  whose  many-sided  capacity  embraces  an  immense 
extent  of  objects,  just  as  the  somnambulist  treads  with  safety 
where  the  wide-awake  man  could  not  hope  to  follow.  Prac- 
tical men  cut  the  knots  which  they  cannot  unite,  and,  over- 
leaping all  preliminaries,  come  at  once  to  a conclusion.  Men 
of  theoretical  knowledge,  on  the  other  hand,  are  tempted  to 
waste  time  in  comparin^and  meditating  when  they  should 
be  up  and  doing.  Practical  knowledge  will  not  always  of 
itself  raise  a man  to  eminence,  but  for  want  of  it  many  a 
man  has  fallen  short  of  distinction.  Without  it  the  best  run- 
ner, straining  for  the  prize,  finds  himself  suddenly  tripped  up 
and  lying  on  his  back  in  the  midst  of  the  race.  Without  it 
the  subtlest  theologian  will  live  and  die  in  an  obscure  country 
village,  and  the  acutest  legal  mind  fail  of  adorning  the  bench. 


260 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


The  man  who  lacks  it  may  be  a great  thinker  or  a great 
worker.  He  may  be  an  acute  reasoner  and  an  eloquent 
speaker,  and  yet,  in  spite  of  all  this,  fail  of  success.  There 
is  a hitch,  a stand-still,  a mysterious  want  somewhere.  Lit- 
tle, impalpable  trifles  weave  themselves  into  a web  which 
holds  him  back.  The  fact  is,  he  is  not  sufficiently  in  accord 
with  his  surroundings.  He  has  never  seen  the  importance 
of  adjusting  his  scale  of  weights  and  measures  to  the  popular 
standard.  In  a word,  he  is  not  a man  of  the  world,  in  a 
popular  sense. 

While  it  may  be  very  difficult  to  define  this  practical 
ability,  v/hich  is  so  all-important,  yet  the  path  to  be  pursued 
by  him  who  would  advance  therein  is  visible  to  all.  It 
requires  a shrewd  and  careful  observance  of  men  and  things 
rather  than  of  books.  It  requires  that  the  judgment  be 
strengthened  by  being  called  upon  apparently  trival  affairs. 
The  memory  must  be  trained  to  recall  principles  rather  than 
statements.  All  the  faculties  of  the  mind  must  be  trained 
to  act  with  decision  and  dispatch.  Education  must  be 
regarded  as  a means  and  not  as  an  end.  By  these  means, 
while  admitting  that  practical  talents  are,  in  their  true  sense^ 
a gift  of  God,  still  we  can  cultivate  and  bring  them  to  per- 
fection, and  by  education  and  experience  convert  that  which 
before  lay  dormant  in  the  rough  pebble  into  a dazzling  dia- 
mond. To  help  you  to  accomplish  this  is  our  desire.  We 
have  made  this  a study  and  can  assure  you  success. 

We  have  made  it  our  life  work  to  assist  those  who  desire 
to  develop  their  own  powers;  to  overcome  all  habits  and 
tendencies  which  prevent  them  from  attaining  success  and 
happiness  in  this  world.  We  are  deeply  imbued  with  the 
idea  that  life  was  intended  by  an  all  wise  Creator  to  be 
filled  with  joy  and  happiness,  and  we  have  made  a study  of 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


261 


those  causes  which  too  often  change  it  into  a scene  or  suff- 
ering, discord  and  pain.  We  have  not  been  content  with  a 
raere  surface  knowledge;  we  have  lifted  the  veil  which  hides 
the  deepest  experiences  of  humanity  from  the  gaze  of  the 
world,  and  we  read  deeply  from  the  pages  of  the  human 
heart.  We  know  that  the  desires  and  longings  of  all  human- 
ity for  power,  for  love,  for  wealth,  were  not  implanted  in  the 
human  breast  without  any  means  of  gratifying  them.  We 
know  that  there  is  a way  to  make  those  who  are  weak  strong 
to  heal  those  who  are  sick,  to  teach  those  who  are  uncouth 
and  awkward,  how  to  acquire  ease  and  grace.  We  can  guide 
those  who  would  learn  how  to  replace  timidity  and  self  dis- 
trust with  self  possession  and  conscious  power.  We  know 
the  hidden  motives  which  actuate  those  who  would  acquire 
those  graces  and  charms  of  manner  which  insure  social 
success.  At  the  bottom  of  every  heart  there  is  a passionate 
longing  for  love,  and  to  those  who  confide  in  us  we  can 
assure  success.  To  all  who  love  and  who  crave  success 
through  a development  of  their  own  talents  we  would  say 
hope  for 

It  is  the  heart  and  not  the  brain 

That  to  the  highest  doth  attain, 

And  he  who  follows  Love’s  behest 

Far  surpasses  all  the  rest. 

The  cultivation  of  the  intellect  gives  power  to  know  and 
analyze,  but  it  does  not  bring  happiness  unless  it  is  guided 
by  the  moral  nature  into  proper  directions.  It  is  only  by 
satisfying  the  cravings  of  the  heart  for  love,  that  the  life 
of  man  is  filled  with  peace  and  content.  Men  miss  the 
best  enjoyment  of  life  by  restlessly  striving  for  mere  baubles 
which  a bad  headache  would  rob  of  all  power  to  please. 
One  hour  of  heart  life  is  worth  years  of  discontented  striv- 
ing after  low  ideals.  The  poet  Burns  with  hardly  a shirt  to 


262 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


his  back,  but  with  his  heart  filled  with  love  and  joy,  was  a 
man  who  enjoyed  life  more  than  many  a miser  whose  heart 
was  fixed  on  riches  and  on  nothing  higher.  But  the  posses- 
sion of  riches  need  not  be  a bar  to  the  truest  and  highest 
enjoyment.  Earnest  work  for  humanity  and  a desire  to 
make  others  happy,  will  bring  its  reward  whether  surrounded 
by  poverty  or  riches. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


mental  trp^ining 


*‘The  development  of  man,  his  attributes  and  possibilities, 
are  largely  dependent  upon  the  amount  he  studies,  and  the  use 
he  makes  of  hig  attainments.*’ 

fHE  mind  has  a certain  vegetative  power  which  cannot 
be  wholly  idle.  If  it  is  not  laid  out  and  cultivated 
into  a beautiful  garden,  it  will  soon  shoot  up  in  weeds 
and  flowers  of  a wild  growth.  From  this,  then,  is  seen  the 
necessity  of  careful  mental  cultivation — a training  of  all  the 
faculties  in  the  right  direction.  This  should  be  the  first 
great  object  in  any  system  of  education,  public  or  private. 
The  value  of  an  education  depends  far  less  upon  varied  and 
extensive  acquirements  than  upon  the  cultivation  of  just 
powers  of  thought  and  the  general  regulation  of  the  faculties 
of  the  understanding.  That  is  not  the  amount  of  knowledge, 
but  the  capacity  to  apply  it,  which  promises  success  and 
usefulness  in  life,  is  a truth  which  cannot  be  too  often  incul- 
cated by  instructors  and  recollected  by  pupils.  If  youths 
are  taught  how  to  think,  they  will  soon  learn  what  to  think. 
Exercise  is  not  more  necessary  to  a healthful  state  of  the 
body  then  is  the  employment  of  the  various  faculties  of  the 
mind  to  mental  efficiency.  The  practical  sciences  are  as 

263 


264 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


barren  of  useful  products  as  the  speculative  where  facts  only 
are  the  objects  of  knowledge,  and  the  understanding  is  not 
habituated  to  a continual  process  of  examination  and 
reflection. 

It  is  the  trained  and  disciplined  intellect  which  rules  the 
world  of  literature,  science,  and  art.  It  is  knowledge  put  in 
action  by  trained  mental  faculties  which  is  powerful. 
Knowledge  merely  gathered  together,  whether  in  books  or  in 
brains,  is  devoid  of  power,  unless  quickened  into  life  by  the 
thoughts  and  reflections  of  some  practical  worker.  But 
when  this  is  supplied  knowledge  becomes  an  engine  of 
power.  It  is  this  which  forms  the  philosopher’s  stone,  the 
true  alchemy,  that  converts  everything  it  touches  into  gold. 
It  is  the  scepter  that  gives  us  our  dominion  over  nature;  the 
key  that  unlocks  the  storehouse  of  creation,  and  opens  to  us 
the  treasures  of  the  universe.  It  is  this  which  forms  the 
difference  between  savage  and  civilized  nations,  and  marks 
the  distinction  between  men  as  they  appear  in  society.  It  is 
this  which  has  raised  men  from  the  humblest  walks  of  life  to 
positions  of  influence  and  power. 

The  lack  of  mental  training  and  discipline  explains,  in  a 
largemeasure,  why  we  so  often  meet  with  men  who  are  the 
possessors  of  vast  stores  of  erudition,  and  yet  make  a failure 
of  everything  they  try.  We  shall  at  all  times  chance  upon 
men  of  profound  and  recondite  requirements,  but  whose 
qualifications,  from  a lack  of  practical  application  on  their 
owners'  part,  are  as  utterly  useless  them  as  though  they  had 
them  not.  A person  of  this  class  may  be  compared  to  a fine 
chronometer  which  has  no  hands  to  its  dial;  both  are  con« 
stantly  right  without  correcting  any  that  are  wrong,  and  may 
be  carried  around  the  world  without  assisting  one  individual 
either  in  making  a discovery  or  taking  an  observation.. 
Every  faculty  of  the  mind  is  worthy  of  cultivation;  indeed, 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


265 


all  must  be  cultivated,  if  we  would  round  and  perfect  our 
mental  powers  as  to  secure  therefrom  the  greatest  good. 
Memory  must  be  ready  with  her  stores  of  useful  knowledge, 
gathered  from  fields  far  and  near.  She  must  be  trained  to 
classify  and  arrange  them,  so  as  to  hold  them  in  her  grasp. 
Observation  must  be  quick  to  perceive  the  apparently  trivial 
events  which  are  constantly  occurring,  and  diligent  to  ascer- 
tain the  cause,  The  judgment  must  pronounce  its  decision 
without  undue  delay;  the  will  move  to  execution  in  accord- 
ance with  the  fiat  of  an  enlightened  understanding. 

This  work  of  mental  training,  apparently  so  vast,  is  really 
so  pleasant  and  easy  that  it  sweetens  everyday’s  life.  There 
is  no  excuse  for  the  youth  who  is  content  to  grow  up  to 
mature  life  and  its  duties  with  a mind  whose  powers  are 
untrained,  and  which  has  not  received  the  advantages  of  a 
practical  education.  Some  may  think  they  are  excused  by 
poverty;  but  lack  of  means  has  not  robbed  them  of  a single 
intellectual  power.  On  the  contrary,  it  sharpens  them  all. 
Has  poverty  shut  them  out  from  nature,  from  truth,  or  from 
God.^  Wealth  cannot  convert  a dunce  into  a genius.  Gold 
will  not  store  a mind  with  wisdom;  more  likely  it  will  fill  it 
with  folly.  It  may  decorate  the  body,  but  it  cannot  adorn 
the  soul.  No  business  is  so  urgent  but  that  time  may  be 
spent  in  mental  training.  One  cannot  well  help  thinking 
and  studying;  for  the  mind  is  ever  active.  What  is  needful 
is  to  direct  it  to  proper  objects  and  in  proper  channels,  and 
it  will  cultivate  itself.  There  is  nothing  to  prevent  but  the 
will.  Who  ever  forms  a resolute  determination  to  cultivate 
his  mind  will  find  nothing  in  h s way  sufficient  to  stop  him. 
If  he  finds  barriers  they  only  strengthen  him  by  overcoming 
them.  Whoever  lives  to  thirty  years  of  age  without  culti- 
vating his  mind  is  guilty  of  a great  waste  of  time.  If  during 
that  period  he  does  not  form  a habit  of  reading,  of  observa- 


^66 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


tion,  and  reflection,  he  will  never  form  such  a habit,  but  go 
through  the  world  none  the  wiser  for  all  the  wonders  that 
are  spread  around  him.  A small  portion  of  that  leisure 
time  which  by  too  many  is  given  to  dissipation  and  idleness, 
would  enable  any  young  man  to  aquire  a very  general  knowl- 
edge of  men  and  things.  One  can  live  a life-time  and  get 
no  instruction:  but  as  soon  as  he  begins  to  look  for  wisdom 
it  is  given  him.  Even  the  pursuits  of  practical,  everyday  life 
numberless  instances  are  constantly  arising  to  aid  in  mental 
training.  There  are  few  persons  so  engrossed  by  the  cares 
and  labors  of  their  calling  that  they  cannot  give  thirty  min- 
utes a day  to  mental  training;  and  even  that  time,  wisely 
spent,  will  tell  at  the  end  of  a year.  The  affections,  it  is 
well  known,  sometimes  crowd  years  into  moments;  and  the 
intellect  has  something  of  the  same  power.  If  you  really 
prize  mental  cultivation,  or  are  deeply  anxious  to  do  any 
good  thing,  you  will  find  time  or  make  lime  for  it  sooner  or 
later,  however,  engrossed  with  other  employments,  A fail- 
ure to  accomplish  it  can  only  demonstrate  the  feebleness  of 
your  will,  not  that  you  lacked  time  for  its  execution. 

It  is  impossible  to  overestimate  the  importance  of  reading 
as  a means  of  training  the  mental  faculties.  It  is  by  this 
means  that  you  gather  food  for  thoughts,  principles  and 
actions.  If  your  books  are  wisely  selected  and  properly 
studied,  they  will  enlighten  your  minds,  improve  your  hearts 
and  establish  your  character.  To  acquire  useful  informa- 
tion, to  improve  the  mind  in  knowledge  and  the  heart  in 
goodness,  to  become  qualified  to  perform  with  honor  and 
usefulness  the  duties  of  life,  and  prepare  for  immortality 
beyond  the  grave,  are  the  great  objects  which  ought  to  be 
kept  in  view  in  reading. 

There  are  four  classes  of  readers.  The  first  is  like  the 
hour-glass,  and  their  reading  being  on  the  sand,  it  runs  in 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


267 


and  runs  out,  and  leaves  no  vestige  behind.  A second  is 
like  a sponge,  which  imbibes  everything  and  returns  it  in  the 
same  state,  only  a little  dirtier.  A third  is  like  a jelly-bag, 
allowing  all  that  is  pure  to  pass  away,  retaining  only  the 
refuse  and  the  dregs.  The  fourth  is  like  the  slaves  in  the 
diamond-mines  of  Golconda,  who,  casting  away  all  that  is 
worthless,  obtain  only  pure  gems. 

We  should  read  with  discrimination.  The  world  is  full 
of  books  no  small  portion  of  which  are  either  worthless  or 
decidedly  hurtful  in  their  tendency.  And  as  no  man  has 
time  to  read  everything,  he  ought  to  make  a selection  of  the 
ablest  and  best  writers  on  the  subjects  which  he  wishes  to 
investigate,  and  dismiss  wholly  from  his  attention  the  entire 
crowd  of  unworthy  and  useless  ones.  Always  read  with 
your  thoughts  concentrated,  and  your  mind  entirely  engaged 
on  the  subject  you  are  pursuing.  Any  other  course  tends  to 
form  a habit  of  desultory,  indolent  thought,  and  incapacitate 
the  mind  from  confining  its  attention  to  close  and  accurate 
investigation.  One  book  read  thoroughly  and  with  careful 
attention  will  do  more  to  improve  the  mind  and  enrich  the 
understanding  than  skimming  over  the  surface  of  a whole 
library.  The  more  one  reads  in  a busy,  superficial  manner^ 
the  worse.  It  is  like  loading  the  stomach  with  a great  quan- 
tity of  food,  which  lies  there  undigested.  It  enfeebles  the 
intellect,  and  sheds  darkness  and  confusion  over  all  the 
operations  of  the  mind.  The  mind,  like  the  body,  is  strength- 
ened by  exercise,  and  the  severer  the  exercise  the  greater 
increase  of  strength.  One  hour  of  thorough,  close  applica- 
tion to  study  does  more  to  invigorate  and  improve  the  mind 
than  a week  spent  in  the  ordinary  exercise  of  its  powers. 
We  should  read  slowly,  carefully,  and  with  reflection.  We 
sometimes  rush  over  pages  of  valuable  matter  because  at  a 
glance  they  seem  to  be  dull,  and  we  hurry  along  to  see  how 
it  is  to  end. 


268 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


At  every  action  and  enterprise  ask  yourself  this  question: 
What  shall  the  consequences  of  this  be  to  me?  Am  I not 
likely  to  repent  of  it?  Whatever  thou  takest  in  hand,  remem- 
ber the  end,  and  thou  shalt  never  do  amiss.  Take  time  to 
deliberate  and  advise,  but  lose  no  time  in  executing  your 
resolution.  To  perceive  accurately  and  to  think  correctly  is 
the  aim  of  all  mental  training.  Heart  and  conscience  are 
more  than  the  mere  intellect.  Yet  we  know  not  how  much 
the  clear,  clean-cut  thought,  the  intellectual  vision,  sharp 
and  true,  may  aid  even  these.  Undigested  learning  is  as 
oppressive  as  undigested  food;  and,  as  with  the  dyspeptic 
patient,  the  appetite  for  food  often  grows  with  the  inability 
to  digest  it,  so  in  the  unthinking  patient  an  overweening 
desire  to  know  often  accompanies  the  inability  to  know  to 
any  purpose.  To  learn  merely  for  the  sake  of  learning 
is  like  eating  merely  for  the  taste  of  the  taste  of  the  food. 
To  learn  in  order  to  become  wise  makes  the  mind  active  and 
powerful,  like  the  body  of  one  who  is  temperate  and  judic- 
ious in  meat  and  drink. 

Thought  is  to  the  brain  what  gastric  juice  is  to  the  stomach — 
a solvent  to  reduce  whatever  is  received  to  a condition  in 
which  all  that  is  wholesome  and  nutritious  may  be  appro- 
priated, and  that  alone.  Learning  is  healthfully  digested  by 
the  mind  when  it  reflects  upon  what  is  learned,  classifies  and 
arranges  facts  and  circumstances,  considers  the  relations  of 
one  to  another,  and  places  what  is  taken  into  the  mind  at 
different  times  in  relation  to  the  same  subjects  under  their 
appropriate  heads,  so  that  the  various  stores  are  not 
heterogeneously  piled  up,  but  laid  away  in  order,  and  may 
be  examined  with  ease  when  wanted.  This  is  the  perfec- 
tion of  mental  training  and  discipline, — memory  well  trained, 
judgment  quick  to  act,  and  attention  sharp  to  observe.  We 
invite  and  urge  all  to  turn  their  attention  to  this  subject  as 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


269 


something  worthy  af  those  endowed  with  reasoning  powers. 
It  is  not  a wearying  task,  but  one  which  repays  for  its  under- 
taking by  making  much  more  rich  in  its  joys  and  inspiring 
in  its  hopes  all  the  after-life  of  the  man  or  woman  who 
went  forth  bravely  to  the  work  which  heaven  has  decreed  as 
the  lot  of  all  who  would  enjoy  the  greatest  good  of  life. 

Man  is  a wonderful  union  of  mind  and  body  and  to  form 
a perfect  being  a high  degree  of  cultivation  is  required  for 
each  component  part.  Those  who  cultivate  the  mental  to 
the  exclusion  of  the  mere  bodily,  or  at  least  carelessly  pass 
by  its  claims,  are  no  less  in  error  than  those  who  cultivate 
the  bodily  faculties  to  the  exclusion  of  the  mental.  The 
aim  of  all  attempts  at  self-cultivation  should  be  the  highest 
and  most  appropriate  development  of  the  entire  being — 
physical,  intellectual  and  moral.  It  comprehends  the  health 
of  the  body,  the  expansion  of  the  intellect,  the  purification 
of  the  heart.  It  guards  the  health,  because  a feeble  body 
acts  powerfully  on  the  mind  and  is  a clog  to  its  progress. 
It  cherishes  the  intellect  because  it  is  the  glory  of  the  hu- 
man being.  It  trains  the  moral  nature,  because  if  that  is 
weak  and  misdirected  a blight  falls  upon  the  soul  and  a 
curse  rests  upon  the  body.  As  each  faculty  reacts  upon  all 
the  others,  true  self- culture  attends  with  a due  proportion  of 
care  to  each.  It  strives  to  retain  one  power  whose  action 
is  tno  intense  and  to  stimulate  another  which  is  torpid,  until 
they  act  in  delightful  harmony  with  each  other  and  the 
result  is  the  healthful  progress  toward  the  highest  point  of 
attainable  good. 

Self-culture  includes  a proper  care  of  the  health  of  the 
body.  To  be  careless  of  your  health  is  to  be  stunted  in  in- 
tellect and  miserable  in  feelings.  You  might  as  well  expect 
to  enjoy  life  in  a dilapidated  and  ruined  habitation,  which 
iffords  free  admission  to  the  freezing  blast  and  pitiless  rain> 


270 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


as  to  be  happy  in  a body  ruined  by  self-indulgence.  The 
body  is  the  home  of  the  soul.  Can  its  mysterious  tenant 
find  rest  and  unmixed  joy  within  its  chambers  if  daily  ex- 
posed to  sharp  and  shivering  shocks  through  its  aching 
joints  or  quivering  nerves?  How  many  bright  intellects 
have  failed  of  making  any  impression  upon  the  world  simply 
because  they  neglected  the  most  obvious  of  hygienic  laws! 
If  God  has  bestowed  upon  you  the  inestimable  gift  of  good 
health  and  a good  constitution,  it  is  your  duty  as  a ratianal 
creature,  to  preserve  it.  To  expect  vigorous  health  and  the 
enjoyment  which  it  brings  and  at  the  same  time  live  in  open 
defiance  of  the  laws  of  health,  is  to  expect  what  can  not 
take  place.  Not  only  is  good  health  thus  of  value  and  one 
of  the  most  important  ends  of  self-cultivation,  but  we  would 
imprs«s  on  all  the  fact  that  the  body  is  just  as  important  a 
factor  as  the  mind  in  the  work  of  success,  that  it  is  just  as 
worthy  to  be  cultivated  so  as  to  grow  in  strength  and  beauty 
and  the  development  of  all  those  faculties  which  go  to  make 
a physically  perfect  man  or  woman. 

It  is  a sad  sight  to  see  a brilliant  mind  that  has  dragged 
down  a strong  body,  because  it  has  been  so  imperious  in  its 
demands,  leaving  its  companion  to  suffer  for  lack  of  atten- 
tion to  some  of  its  plainest  wants.  It  reminds  one  of  a 
building  tottering  under  its  own  weight,  yet  full  of  the  most 
costly  machinery  which  can  be  run,  if  at  all,  only  with  the 
greatest  caution  or  the  entire  fabric  will  crumble  to  ruins. 
The  lesson  cannot  be  too  soon  learned  that,  while  the  hu- 
man body  is  most  wonderfully  complex  in  its  organization, 
still  such  is  the  perfection  of  all  nature’s  works  that  all  that 
is  demanded  of  us  is. compliance  with  simple  rules  to  enable 
us  to  enjoy  health.  That  it  is  our  duty  as  well  as  our  privi- 
lege to  so  train  and  cultivate  the  body  that  it  will  answer 
readily  all  demands  made  upon  it  by  an  enlightened  mind 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS, 


271 


and  will  perform  all  its  appropriate  functions  in  the  great 
work  of  life. 

The  course  of  training  which  all  of  our  students  receive 
who  enter  upon  the  private  course  in  Personal  Magnetism, 
has  for  its  first  object  the  formation  of  daily  habits  of  living 
that  will  ensure  perfect  health  if  continued  for  a reasonable 
length  of  time.  Our  knowledge  of  the  finer  forces  which 
may  be  brought  to  bear  upon  any  life,  enable  us  to  work  in 
harmony  with  nature  and  with  a success  and  certainty  that 
no  school  of  medicine  can  hope  to  achieve;  indeed,  a large 
number  of  our  students  and  patients  are  those  who  have 
tried  in  vain  the  treatment  of  physicians  who  use  drugs  and 
medicines  and  who  have  been  reduced  to  helplessness  and 
left  without  hope  under  the  treatment.  We  hold  that  drugs 
never  effect  a permanent  cure  and  that  nature  alone  can  re- 
store to  health;  all  that  is  needed  is  to  remove  the  hindering 
causes  which  interfere  with  nature  and  let  her  perform  her 
perfect  work. 

The  forces  which  give  sound,  bodily  health  exist  all  around 
us  and  because  they  have  been  lavished  so  freely  upon  us 
by  the  Supreme  Power,  man  has  passed  them  by  carelessly 
and  denied  their  existence.  All  that  is  needed  is  an  intelli- 
gent recognition  of  these  forces  and  their  wonderful  power 
and  that  we  teach  our  students  in  Personal  Magnetism. 
We  recognize  that  the  physical  body  must  ever  be  the  foun- 
dation on  which  to  build  a character  full  of  power  and  able 
to  exert  a Magnetic  influence  over  others.  The  training 
which  we  give  our  students,  has  for  its  aim  the  placing  them 
in  a position  of  conscious  power.  We  see  all  around  us  every 
day  of  our  lives  men  and  women  who  are  gifted  by  nature, 
but  who  do  not  know  how  to  use  her  gifts  and  who  are  not 
aware  of  them.  These  powers  if  allpwed  to  remain  unde- 
veloped, become  a source  of  unhappiness  and  no  one  can  be 


272 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


entirely  healthy  while  they  are  unhappy.  The  course  which 
we  send  out  to  our  students  deals  first  with  the  physical  and 
when  our  teachings  have  produced  their  legitimate  effect  and 
the  health  is  practically  perfect,  desire  and  will  when  rightly 
exerted  will  bring  happiness  and  success. 

Self-culture  also  implies  suitable  efforts  to  expand  and 
strengthen  the  intellect  by  reading,  by  reflection  and  by 
writing  down  your  thoughts.  The  strength  and  vigor  given 
to  the  mind  by  self-culture  is  not  materially  different  from 
that  expressed  by  the  term  education  in  its  broad  and  com- 
prehensive meaning.  Intellect  being  the  crowning  glory 
and  chief  attribute  of  man,  there  can  be  no  nobler  aim  to 
set  before  one’s  self  than  that  of  expanding  and  quickening 
all  of  its  powers.  Rightly  lived,  our  everyday  life  and  ac- 
tions conduce  to  this  result.  Our  education  is  by  no  means 
entirely  on  the  product  of  organized  schools.  Our  hired 
teachers  and  printed  books  are  not  all  that  act  on  our  pow- 
ers to  develop  them.  Life  is  one  grand  school  and  its 
every  circumstance  a teacher.  Society  pours  in  its  in- 
fluence upon  us  like  the  thousand  streams  that  flood  the 
ocean. 

Scholastic  men  and  women  speak  of  book  education,  there 
is  also  a life  education — that  great,  common  arena  where 
men  and  women  do  battle  with  the  forces  around  them. 
Our  duty  is  so  to  guide  and  control  these  influences  as  to  be 
educated  in  the  right  direction.  We  should  recognize  the 
fact  that  we  are  educating  all  the  time  and  the  great  ques- 
tion for  us  to  settle  is,  “What  manner  of  education  are  we 
receiving?”  Some  are  educated  in  vice,  some  in  folly, 
some  in  selfishness,  some  in  deception,  some  in  goodness^ 
some  in  truth.  Everyday  gives  us  many  lessons  in  life. 
Every  thought  leaves  its  impression  on  the  mind.  Every 
feeling  weaves  a garment  for  the  spirit.  Every  passion 


The  Guardian  Angel. 


* 


LI3!?ARY 
Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  1J.IN01S 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


273 


plows  a furrow  in  the  soul.  It  is  our  duty  as  sentinent, 
moral  beings  so  to  guide  and  direct  these  thoughts,  feelings 
and  passions  that  they  shall  educate  us  in  the  right  direc- 
tion. We  are  lax  in  duty  to  ourselves  to  let  the  world  edu- 
cate us  as  it  will,  for  we  are  running  a great  risk  to  yield 
ourselves  up  to  the  circumstances  life  has  thrown  about  us, 
to  plunge  into  the  stream  of  popular  custom  and  allow  our- 
selves to  drift  with  the  current. 

But  aside  from  the  practical  education  of  everyday  life  we 
are  to  remember,  in  our  efforts  after  self-culture,  that  it  is 
also  obligatory  upon  us  to  seek  the  discipline  afforded  by 
books  and  study.  In  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  follow  it 
wherever  it  is  to  be  found;  like  fern,  it  is  the  product  of  all 
climates  and  like  air,  its  circulation  is  not  restricted  to  any 
particular  class.  Any  and  every  legitimate  means  of  acquir- 
ing information  is  to  be  pursued  and  all  the  odds  and  bits  of 
time  pressed  into  use.  Set  a high  price  upon  your  leisure 
moments.  They  are  sands  of  precious  gold;  properly  ex- 
pended they  will  procure  for  you  a stock  of  great  thoughts — 
thoughts  that  will  fill,  stir,  invigorate  and  expand  the  soul. 
As  the  magnificent  river,  rolling  in  the  pride  of  its  mighty 
waters,  owes  its  greatness  to  the  hidden  springs  of  the 
mountain  nook,  so  does  the  wide  sweeping  influence  of  dis- 
tinguished men  date  its  origin  from  hours  of  privacy  reso- 
lutely employed  in  efforts  after  self-development. 

We  should  esteem  those  moments  best  improved  which 
are  employed  in  developing  our  own  thoughts,  rather  than 
acquiring  those  of  others,  since  in  this  kind  of  intellectual 
exercise  our  powers  are  best  brought  into  action  and  disci- 
plined for  use.  Knowledge  acquired  by  labor  becomes  a 
possession — a property  entirely  our  own.  A greater  vivid- 
ness of  impression  is  secured  and  facts  thus  acquired,  be- 
come registered  in  the  mind  in  a way  that  mere  imparted  in- 


274 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


formation  fails  of  securing,  A habit  of  observation  and 
reflection  is  well-nigh  everything.  He  who  has  spent  his 
whole  life  in  traveling  may  live  and  die  a thorough  novice  in 
most  of  the  important  affairs  in  life,  while  on  the  other 
hand,  a man  may  be  confined  to  a narrow  sphere  and  be 
engrossed  in  the  prosaic  affairs  of  everyday  life  and  yet  have 
very  correct  ideas  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  other  na- 
tions. He  that  studies  only  men  will  get  the  body  of  knowl- 
edge without  the  soul;  he  that  studies  only  books,  the  soul 
without  the  body.  He  that  to  what  he  sees  adds  observa- 
tion and  to  what  he  reads  reflection,  is  in  the  right  road  to 
knowledge,  provided  that  in  scrutinizing  the  hearts  of  others 
he  neglects  not  his  own.  Be  not  dismayed  at  doubts,  for 
remember  that  doubt  is  the  vestibule  through  which  all  must 
pass  before  they  can  enter  into  the  temple  of  wisdom;  there- 
fore, when  we  are  in  doubt  and  puzzle  out  the  truth  by  our 
own  exertions,  we  have  gained  a something  which  will  stay 
by  us  and  serve  us  again.  But  if  to  avoid  the  trouble  of  a 
search  we  avail  ourselves  of  the  superior  information  of  a 
friend,  such  knowledge  will  not  remain  with  us;  we  have 
borrowed  \t  and  not  bought  \t 

But  man  possesses  something  more  than  a mere  body  and 
intellect;  he  is  the  possessor  of  moral  faculties  as  well.  A 
true  self-culture  will  be  none  the  less  careful  to  have  the  ac- 
tions of  these  refined  and  pure  than  it  is  to  possess  physical 
health  on  the  one  hand  and  mental  vigor  on  the  other.  In- 
deed, since  your  happiness  depends  upon  their  healthful 
condition  more  than  upon  the  state  of  your  body  and  inteL 
lect,  your  first  care  should  be  devoted  to  giving  careful  at- 
tention to  your  moral  nature.  With  disordered  moral  facul- 
ties you  will  be  as  a ship  without  a helm,  dashed  on  bars 
and  rocks  at  the  will  of  winds  and  waves.  It  is  the  vice  of 
the  age  to  substitute  learning  for  wisdom,  to  educate  the 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


275 


head  and  torget  that  there  is  a more  important  education 
necessary  for  the  heart.  Let  the  heart  be  opened  and  a 
thousand  virtues  rush  in.  There  is  dew  in  one  flower  and 
not  in  another,  because  one  opens  its  cup  and  takes  it  in, 
while  the  other  closes  itself  and  the  drop  runs  off.  God 
rains  his  goodness  and  mercy  as  widespread  as  the  dew  and 
if  we  lack  them  it  is  because  we  know  not  how  to  open  our 
hearts  to  receive  them.  No  man  can  tell  whether  he  is  rich 
or  poor  by  turning  to  his  ledger.  It  is  the  heart  that  makes 
a man  rich.  He  is  rich  or  poor  according  to  what  he  is  and 
not  what  he  has.  Cultivate  your  moral  nature,  then,  as  well 
as  bodily  strength  and  mental  vigor.  The  heart  is  the  cen- 
ter of  vitality  in  the  physical  body;  so  the  moral  senses 
seem  to  give  vitality  to  all  the  various  faculties  of  the  mind. 
If  the  moral  nature  becomes  stunted  in  its  development  the 
mind  is  apt  to  become  chaotic  in  its  action.  How  often  we 
meet  with  examples  of  this  character  in  the  common  walks 
of  life!  Many  lose  their  balance  of  mind  and  become 
wrecks  from  want  of  heart  culture.  Is  the  head  of  more  im- 
portance than  the  heart!  It  is  true  that  wealth  is  the  child 
of  the  one,  but  it  is  equally  true  that  happiness  is  the  off- 
spring of  the  other. 

Such,  then,  is  an  outline  of  the  great  problem  of  self- 
culture, We  cannot  escape  its  claims;  from  the  time  rea- 
son dawns  until  death  closes  the  scene  they  are  pressing  upon 
you.  Much  of  the  happin  ess  of  life,  both  here  and  hereafter, 
depends  on  how  you  meet  its  demands.  You  can,  if  you 
but  will  it,  grow  apace  in  all  that  is  manly  or  womanly  in 
life;  or  by  neglecting  the  claims  of  your  manifold  nature,  as 
utterly  fail  of  so  doing  as  the  stunted  shrub  fails  of  being 
the  stately  tree  with  waving  branches  and  luxuriant  foliage. 

Rarely  do  we  meet  a character  fully  developed  on  every 
side  and  when  we  see  a man  or  woman  who  has  passed 


276 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


middle  life  and  is  approaching  old  age,  with  full  possession 
of  all  their  faculties  and  full  of  wisdom  and  energy  while 
overflowing  with  kindness  to  all  their  friends  and  neighbors, 
we  may  be  sure  that  they  have  obeyed  the  laws  of  self- 
culture and  have  used  well  the  gifts  which  they  possessed. 
Nothing  is  sadder  than  to  see  those  lives  that  have  grown 
only  in  one  direction,  while  every  other  side  of  their  natures 
has  been  neglected.  Such  a life  is  sure  to  be  full  of  vain 
regrets  and  sadness  when  looking  back  over  the  past.  While 
a full  and  well  rounded  life  finds  pleasure  in  old  age,  equal 
to  those  of  youth.  The  miser  who  has  starved  every  gener- 
ous impulse  in  order  to  accumulate  gold,  will  find  too  late 
how  little  gold  can  do  to  bring  serenity  and  happiness. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


POWER  OF  MIND, 


<‘My  mind  to  me  a kingdom  is; 

Such  perfect  joy  therein  I find 
As  far  exceeds  all  earthly  bliss. 

Though  much  I want  that  most  would  have, 

Yet  still  my  mind  forbids  to  crave.” 

— Sir  Edmund  Dyer, 

HE  triumph  of  cultivated  intellect  over  the  forces  of 
nature  is  indeed  a wonderful  subject  for  contempla- 
tion. The  most  deadly  poisons  are  made  to  conduce 
to  human  health  and  welfare.  Electricity  does  the  writing 
and  talking  and  annihilates  space.  Steam  and  iron  are 
made  to  do  the  work  of  nerves  and  muscles  and  lay  the 
four  corners  of  the  world  under  contribution  for  our  benefit. 
In  view  of  these  and  many  similar  facts,  how  full  of  meaning 
becomes  the  old  saying;  ‘‘Knowledge  is  power!  **  Reason, 
like  the  magnetic  influence  imparted  to  iron,  may  be  said  to 
give  to  matter,  properties  and  powers  which  it  did  not  pos- 
sess before;  but  without  extending  its  bulk,  augmenting  its 
weight,  or  altering  its  organization,  it  is  visible  only  by  its 
effects  and  perceptible  only  by  its  operations. 

277 


278 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Unlike  those  of  the  warriors,  the  triumphs  of  intellect  de- 
rive all  their  lustre,  not  from  the  evil  they  have  produced 
but  from  the  good.  Her  successes  and  her  conquests  are 
the  common  property  of  the  world  and  succeeding  ages  will 
be  the  watchful  guardians  of  the  rich  legacies  she  bequeaths. 
The  trophies  and  titles  of  the  conqueror  are  on  the  quick 
march  to  oblivion  and  amid  that  desolation  where  they  were 
planted  will  decay.  As  the  mind  must  govern  the  hand,  so 
in  every  society  the  man  of  intelligence  must  direct  and 
govern  the  man  of  ignorance.  There  is  no  exception  to 
this  law.  Tt  is  the  natural  sequence  of  the  dominion  of 
mind  over  matter — a dominion  sc  strong  that  for  a time  it 
can  make  flesh  and  nerves  impregnable  and  string  the  sin- 
ews like  steel,  so  that  the  weak  become  strong.  Some  men 
of  a secluded  and  studious  life  have  sent  forth  from  their 
closet  or  cloister,  rays  of  intellectual  light  that  have  agitated 
courts  and  revolutionized  kingdoms,  as  the  moon,  that  far 
removed  from  the  ocean  and  shining  upon  it  with  a serene 
and  sober  light,  is  the  chief  cause  of  all  those  ebbings  and 
flowings  which  incessantly  disturb  that  world  of  waters. 

The  triumph  of  mind  is  shown  in  various  ways.  It  en- 
ables us  to  surmount  difficulties  with  facility.  Like  im- 
prisoned steam,  the  more  it  is  pressed  the  more  it  rises  to 
resist  the  pressure.  The  more  we  are  obliged  to  do  the  more 
we  are  able  to  accomplish.  Perhaps  in  no  other  respect  is 
the  power  of  mind  more  signally  shown  than  when  it  opens 
to  our  view  avenues  of  pleasure,  before  unthought  of. 
Happiness  is  the  great  aim  of  life.  In  one  form  or  another 
we  are  all  striving  for  it.  There  are  no  pleasures  so  pure  as 
mental  pleasures.  We  never  tire  of  them,  A lofty  mind 
always  thinks  loftily.  It  easily  creates  vivid,  agreeable  and 
natural  fancies,  places  them  in  their  best  light,  clothes  them 
with  all  appropriate  adornments,  studies  others’  tastes  and 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


279 


clears  away  from  its  own  thoughts  all  that  is  useless  and 
disagreeable.  Mental  force  or  power  is  not  the  inheritance 
of  birth,  nor  the  result  of  a few  years’  spasmodic  study; 
it  is  only  acquired  as  the  result  of  long  and  patient  exertion. 
There  is  no  age  at  which  it  cannot  be  increased.  There  is 
absolutely  no  branch  of  literature  which,  when  properly  di- 
gested and  stowed  away  in  the  mind,  will  not  show  its  effect 
in  after  life  by  increased  vigor  in  the  whole  mind. 

Those  intellectually  strong  men  and  women  who  have  left 
their  influence  on  the  world's  history  are  almost  without  ex- 
ception found  to  be  those  who  have  possessed  broad  and 
deep  acquirements;  who  have  permitted  no  opportunity  for 
obtaining  information  to  pass  unimproved;  who  have  been 
content  for  years  to  store  away  knowledge,  confident  that  in 
the  fullness  of  time  they  would  reap  the  reward. 

If  anyone  would  be  the  possessor  of  mental  power  he 
must  be  willing  to  do  his  duty  in  obtaining  it.  There  is  a 
tendency  to  make  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  at  the  pres- 
ent day,  as  easy  as  possible.  The  end  proposed  is  good, 
but  the  means  employed  are  of  doubtful  utility.  Instead  of 
toiling  painfully  on  foot  up  the  rugged  steeps  of  learning  the 
student  of  today  flies  along  a railway  track,  finding  every 
cliff  cut  through  and  every  valley  bridged.  In  this  world 
nothing  of  value  is  to  be  obtained  without  labor.  So  there 
are  some  who  will  question  the  value  of  that  education  which 
is  not  born  of  patient  perseverance  and  hard  work.  As  in 
the  exercise  of  the  gymnasium  the  value  consists  in  the  ex- 
ertions required  to  perform  them,  so  that  knowledge  and 
mental  power  acquired  by  arduous  exertion  is  of  the  most 
lasting  and  real  value.  Let  patient  toilers  find  a lesson  of 
encouragement  in  this.  What  you  thus  painfully  acquire 
will  prove  of  lasting  benefit  to  you. 


280 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Mental  power  is  seen  in  its  best  form  only  when  all  of  the 
mental  faculties  have  been  properly  drilled  and  disciplined. 
The  mind  cannot  grow  to  its  full  stature,  nor  be  rounded 
into  just  proportions,  nor  acquire  that  blended  litheness, 
toughness  and  elasticity  which  it  needs,  if  fed  on  one  ali- 
ment. There  is  no  profession  or  calling  which,  if  too  exclu- 
sively followed,  will  not  warp  and  contract  the  mind.  Just 
as  if  in  the  body,  a person  resolves  to  be  a rower  and 
only  a rower,  the  chances  are  that  he  will  have,  indeed, 
strong  arms  but  weak  legs  and  eyes  blinded  by  the  glare  of 
water.  Or,  if  he  desires  to  become  an  athlete,  he  may  be 
all  muscles  but  few  brains.  So,  in  the  mind,  if  he  exercises 
but  one  set  of  faculties  and  neglects  the  rest,  he  may  become 
a subtle  theologian  or  a sharp  lawyer,  a keen  man  of  busi- 
ness, or  a practical  mechanic  and  though  the  possessor  of 
power  it  is  not  power  in  its  highest  and  best  form. 

But  for  those  who  are  anxious  to  obtain  mental  power  and 
for  that  purpose  devote  the  years  of  a lifetime  to  patient 
study  and  reflection,  the  rewards  it  offers  are  full  compensa- 
tion for  all  the  hours  of  weary,  self-denying  labor.  Not  only 
does  it  afford  the  best  assurance  of  success  in  life's  battles 
and  point  out  to  its  possessor  means  of  happiness  denied  to 
others,  but  it  is  so  peculiarly  the  highest  form  of  power  to 
which  man  can  aspire  that  it  commands  the  homage  of  all 
and  reposes  as  a jewel  in  the  crown  of  the  true  man  or 
woman. 

There  are  many  who  find  themselves  in  the  toils  of  an 
evil  custom  who  would  most  willingly  give  money  and  time 
to  be  free  from  its  contral.  Montaigne  says:  “Custom 
is  a violent  and  treacherous  schoolmistress.  She,  by  little 
and  little,  slyly  and  unperceivedly  slips  in  the  foot  of  her 
authority;  but  having  by  this  gentle  and  humble  beginning, 
with  the  benefit  of  time  fixed  and  established  it,  she  then 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


281 


unmasks  a furious  and  tyrannic  countenance,  against  which 
we  have  no  more  the  courage  or  the  power  to  lift  up  our 
eyes/’  Custom  is  the  law  of  one  class  of  people  and  fash- 
ion of  another;  but  the  two  parties  often  clash,  for  preced- 
ence is  the  legislator  of  the  first  and  novelty  of  the  second. 
Custom,  therefore,  looks  to  things  that  are  past  and  fashion 
to  things  that  are  present;  but  both  are  somewhat  purblind 
as  to  things  that  are  to  come.  Of  the  two,  fashion  imposes 
the  heaviest  burdens,  for  she  cheats  her  votaries  of  their 
time,  their  fortune  and  their  comforts  and  she  repays  them 
only  with  the  celebrity  of  being  ridiculed  and  despised — a 
very  paradoxical  mode  of  payment,  yet  always  most  thank- 
fully received. 

It  is  surprising  to  what  an  extent  our  likes  and  dislikes 
are  creatures  of  custom.  Our  modes  of  belief,  thoughts 
and  opinions  are  molded  and  shaped  by  what  has  been  the 
prevailing  mode  of  thinking  heretofore.  Though  we  are^ 
indeed,  not  so  given  to  the  worship  of  past  institutions  as 
some  people,  yet  we  all  acknowledge  the  prevailing  power  of 
custom,  of  personal  habits  and  of  fashions.  We  dare  not 
stand  alone  in  any  matter  of  concern,  but  wish  to  be  in  com- 
pany of  those  similarly  minded.  The  law  of  opinion  goes 
forth.  We  do  not  ask  who  promulgates  it,  but  fall  into  the 
ranks  of  its  followers  and  worshipers.  We  are  whirled  in 
the  giddy  ranks  and  blinded  by  the  dazzling  lights.  Novelty 
is  the  show,  conformity  is  the  law — and  life  a trance,  until  at 
last  we  awake  from  it  to  find  that  we  have  been  the  victims 
of  a fatal  folly  and  a bewildering  dream. 

Habit  is  man^s  best  friend  or  worst  enemy.  It  can  exalt 
him  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  virtue,  honor,  or  happiness, 
or  sink  him  to  the  lowest  depths  of  vice,  shame  and  misery. 
If  we  look  back  upon  the  usual  course  of  our  feelings  we 
shall  find  that  we  are  more  influenced  by  the  frequent  re- 


282 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


currence  of  objects  than  by  their  weight  and  importance 
and  that  habit  has  more  force  in  forming  our  character  than 
our  opinions.  The  mind  naturally  takes  its  tone  and  com- 
plexion from  what  it  habitually  contemplates.  “Whatever 
may  be  the  cause,”  says  Lord  Karnes  “it  is  an  established 
fact  that  we  are  mud  influenced  by  custom.  It  hath  an 
effect  upon  our  pleasures,  upon  our  actions  and  even  upon 
our  thoughts  and  sentiments.”  Habit  makes  no  figure  dur- 
ing the  vivacity  of  youth,  in  middle  age  it  gains  ground  and 
in  old  age  governs  without  control.  In  that  period  of  life, 
generally  speaking,  we  eat  at  a certain  hour,  take  exercise  at 
a certain  time,  all  by  the  direction  of  habit;  nay,  a particu- 
lar seat,  table  and  bed  comes  to  be  essential  and  a habit  in 
any  of  these  cannot  be  contradicted  without  uneasiness. 
Man,  it  has  been  said,  is  a bundle  of  habits  and  habit  is  a 
second  nature.  Metastasio  entertained  so  strong  an  opinion 
as  to  the  power  of  repetition  in  act  and  thought  that  he  said, 
“All  is  habit  in  mankind,  even  virtue  itself.’’ 

Beginning  with  single  acts,  habit  is  formed  slowly  at  first 
and  it  is  not  till  its  spider’s  thread  is  woven  in  a thick 
cable  that  its  existence  is  suspected.  Then  it  is  found  that 
beginning  in  cobwebs  it  ends  in  chains.  Gulliver  was  bound 
as  fast  by  the  Lilliputians  with  multiplied  threads  as  if  they 
had  used  ropes.  “Like  flakes  of  snow  that  fall  unperceiv- 
ably  upon  the  earth,”  says  Jeremy  Bentham,  “the  seemingly 
unimportant  events  of  life  succeed  one  another.  As  the 
snow  gathers  so  are  our  habits  formed;  no  single  flake  that 
is  added  to  the  pile  produces  a sensible  change;  no  single 
action  creates,  however  it  may  exhibit  a man’s  character. 
But  as  the  tempest  hurls  the  avalanche  down  the  mountain 
and  overwhelms  the  inhabitant  and  his  habitation,  so  passion, 
acting  upon  the  elements  of  mischief  which  pernicious  habits 
have  brought  together  by  imperceptible  accumulation,  may 


OK,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


283 


overthrow  the  edifice  of  truth  and  virtue.  The  force  of 
habit  renders  pleasant  many  things  which  at  first  were  in- 
tensely disagreeable  or  even  painful. 

Walking  upon  the  quarter  deck  of  a vessel,  though  felt  at 
first  to  be  intolerably  confined,  becomes  by  repetition,  so 
agreeable  to  the  sailor  that,  in  his  walks  on  shore,  he  often 
hems  himself  within  the  same  bounds.  Arctic  explorers  be- 
come so  accustomed  to  the  hardships  incident  to  such  a life 
that  they  do  not  enjoy  the  comforts  of  home  when  they  re- 
turn. So  powerful  is  the  effect  of  constant  repetition  of  ac- 
tion that  men  whose  habits  are  fixed  may  almost  be  said  to 
have  lost  their  free  agency.  Their  actions  become  of  the 
nature  of  fate  and  they  are  so  bound  by  the  chains  which 
they  have  woven  for  themselves  that  they  do  that  which  they 
have  been  accustomed  to  do  even  when  they  know  it  can 
yield  neither  pleasure  nor  profit. 

Those  who  are  in  the  power  of  an  evil  habit  must  conquer 
^t  as  they  can  a nd  conquered  it  must  be,  or  neither  wisdom 
nor  happiness  can  be  obtained  ; but  those  who  are  not  yet 
subject  to  their  influence  may.  by  timely  caution,  preserve 
their  freedom.  They  may  effectually  resolve  to  escape  the 
tyrant  whom  they  will  vainly  resolve  to  conquer.  Be  not 
slow  in  the  breaking  of  a sinful  habit;  a quick;  courageous 
resolution  is  better  than  a gradual  deliberation;  in  such  a 
combat  he  is  the  bravest  soldier  who  lays  about  him  without 
fear  or  wit.  Wit  pleads;  fear  disheartens.  He  who  would 
kill  hydra  had  better  strike  off  one  neck  than  five  heads — 
fell  the  tree  and  the  branches  are  soon  cut  off. 

Vicious  habits  are  so  great  a strain  on  human  nature, 
said  Cicero,  and  so  odious  in  themselves  that  every  person 
actuated  by  right  reason  would  avoid  them,  though  he  were 
sure  they  would  always  be  concealed  both  from  God  and 
man  and  had  no  future  punishment  entailed  on  them.  Vic- 


284 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


ious  habits  when  opposed,  offer  the  most  vigorous  resistance 
on  the  first  attack;  at  each  successive  encounter  this  resist- 
ance grows  weaker,  until  finally,  it  ceases  altogether  and  the 
victory  is  achieved 

Such  being  the  power  of  habit  all  can  plainly  see  the  im- 
portance of  forming  habits  of  such  a nature  that  they  shall 
constantly  tend  to  increase  our  happiness  and  to  render 
more  sure  and  certain  that  success,  the  attaining  of  which  is 
the  object  of  all  our  endeavors.  We  may  form  habits  of 
honesty  or  knavery,  frugality  or  extravagance,  of  patience  or 
impatience,  self-denial  or  self-indulgence.  In  short,  there  is 
not  a virtue  nor  a vice,  not  an  act  of  body  nor  of  mind,  to 
which  we  may  not  be  chained  by  this  despotic  power.  It  has 
been  truly  said  that  even  happiness  may  become  habitual. 
One  may  acquire  the  habit  of  looking  upon  the  sunny  side 
of  things,  or  of  looking  upon  the  gloomy  side.  He  may  ac- 
custom himself  by  a happy  alchemy,  to  transmit  the  darkest 
events  into  materials  for  hopes.  Hume,  the  historian,  said 
that  the  habit  of  looking  at  the  bright  side  of  things  was 
better  than  an  income  of  a thousand  pounds  a year. 

Habits  which  are  to  be  commended  are  not  to  be  formed 
in  a day,  nor  by  a few  faint  resolutions,  not  by  accident,  not 
by  fits  and  starts — being  one  moment  in  a paroxysm  of  at- 
tention and  the  next  falling  into  the  sleep  of  indifference — 
are  they  to  be  obtained,  but  by  steady,  persistent  efforts- 
Above  all,  it  is  necessary  that  they  be  acquired  in  youth,  for 
then  do  they  cost  the  least  effort.  Like  letters  cut  in  the 
bark  of  a tree,  they  grow  and  widen  with  age.  Once  ob- 
tained they  are  a fortune  of  themselves,  for  their  possessor 
has  disposed  thereby  of  the  heavier  end  of  the  load  of  life; 
all  the  remaining  he  can  carry  easily  and  pleasantly.  On 
the  other  hand,  bad  habits  once  formed,  will  hang  forever  on 
the  wheels  of  enterprise  and  in  the  end  will  assert  their  su- 
premacy, to  the  ruin  and  shame  of  their  victim. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


285 


Those  habits  are  most  important  which  directly  raise  or 
lower  the  standard  of  health,  Instinct  has  been  correctly 
styled  the  habit  of  the  race,  but  bearings  and  attitudes  in  all 
changes  of  the  body  are  results  for  the  greater  part,  of  imi- 
tation. A well  known  French  writer  has  said  “society  is 
imitation.”  We  may  not  agree  to  this  wholly  but  the  influ- 
ence of  imitation  upon  the  individual  cannot  be  measured. 
Children  copy  the  gesture,  walk,  manner  of  rising,  talking^ 
facial  gestures  and  every  peculiarity  of  movement  of  the 
persons  around  them.  They  will  copy  a wrong  action  just 
as  quickly  as  a right  one.  The  child  depends  upon  its  hu- 
man environment  for  its  mental  and  physical  action;  imi- 
tates the  awkwardness  and  constraint  of  attitude  which  only 
a painful  and  constant  effort  in  later  life  will  enable  it  to 
overcome.  It  is  pitiful  to  think  of  the  time  that  must  be 
wasted  in  breaking  up  habits  that  ought  never  to  have  been 
acquired;  to  face  ugliness  and  deformity  daily  and  know 
that  beauty  and  grace  might  as  well  have  been. 

Habits  spring  from  repetition  of  acts  and  habits,  right  or 
wrong  soon  become  a part  of  one’s  self.  When  they  become 
automatic  they  are  no  longer  under  the  control  of  the  will. 
An  acquired  action  or  gesture  perpetuates  itself  by  constant 
repetition.  This  can  be  said  of  the  numberless  actions, 
idioms,  phrases  and  expressions  that  have  become  a fixed 
part  of  character.  Because  habits  which  are  fundamental 
to  all  future  action  become  fixed  and  continue  through  life, 
it  will  readily  be  seen  that  the  most  extravagant  and  great- 
est waste  of  human  energy  comes  from  the  acquirement  of 
wrong  habits  of  bodily  movements.  Habits  are  acquired  at 
every  stage  of  development,  but  the  active  period  is  infancy 
and  youth.  At  this  period  we  fix  habits  of  eating,  drinking, 
lifting,  reaching,  sitting,  running,  talking  and  singing;  in  fact 
the  use  of  the  body  in  function  or  expression  is  stultified  or 


286 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


stimulated,  as  the  early  environment  determines.  This  is 
perfectly  understood  by  all  thinking  men  and  women  and 
still  in  this  age  of  enlightenment,  it  is  an  almost  universal 
custom  to  give  little  children  the  chea^pest  teachers  which 
too  often  means  the  poorest  teachers.  A mother  will  select 
a cheap  teacher  for  piano  lessons  and  engraft  in  the  child’s 
physical  and  mental  movements  habits  that  perhaps  never 
can  be  eradicated.  Cheap  novices  from  the  high  school  are 
allowed  to  instruct  the  primary  grades  and  imprint  their  own 
awkwardness  and  bad  manners  upon  the  children;  implant 
evils  which  grow  with  their  growth  and  hinder  and  obstruct 
through  life.  It  is  said  by  one  of  the  great  philosophers 
that  a child  can  learn  more  in  the  first  six  years  of  his  life 
than  he  ever  learns  after.  He  is  developing  his  elementary 
ideas,  laying  the  foundation  of  habit  of  mind  and  body 
which  are  to  determine  his  usefulness  or  his  weakness,  lead 
to  strength  or  decay.  With  this  in  view,  it  becomes  a moral 
duty  with  every  adult  to  overcome  as  far  as  possible  the  de- 
fects of  early  education,  not  only  for  one’s  own  sake  but  for 
the  sake  of  others.  Just  as  we  would  shrink  from  commu- 
nicating small-pox  or  diptheria  to  those  about  us;  so  we 
should  shrink  from  communicating  awkwardness  of  carriage 
and  defective  bearings  which  are  the  sure  indications  of 
weakness  bodily  or  mental.  Influences  good  or  bad  rain 
upon  the  child  from  every  source.  The  strongest  influence 
is  that  of  the  mother  and  the  immediate  family,  but  all  with 
whom  the  child  comes  in  contact  have  some  influence  in 
forming  the  character  and  are  in  a degree  responsible. 

With  adults  where  bad  habits  have  been  acquired  and 
have  become  automatic,  a certain  preparation  of  the  body  to 
bring  it  into  a proper  condition  to  acquire  new  forms  is  a 
necessity.  No  amount  of  reasoning  will  enable  an  individ- 
ual who  has  formed  a bad  habit  to  eradicate  it.  In  early 


OR,  ^URE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


287 


years  the  body  is  in  a plastic  and  mobile  condition,  the 
powers  of  attention  are  at  the  highest  and  the  modes  of  ex- 
pression are  exercised  in  the  best  possible  way.  It  is 
enough  with  the  child  that  a new  and  better  form  of  ex- 
pression be  taught;  but  with  the  adult  the  case  is  wholly  dif- 
ferent. The  impulse  of  the  organism  is  so  strong  to  act 
along  certain  lines  that  it  defeats  the  will.  The  only  thing 
to  do  is  to  get  control  of  the  impulse  to  act;  this  is  the  key 
note  of  the  whole  situation.  Wrong  habits  bring  about  un 
due  tension,  constraint  or  interference  on  the  part  of  the 
muscles.  This  is  the  infallible  sign  of  every  wrong,  bodily 
habit;  constraint,  restriction  that  defeats  the  action  of  the 
will;  organic  defects  which  prevent  the  inflow  of  ideas  from 
the  external  world  and  hinder  the  outgo  of  thought  and 
emotion  translated  into  perfect  expression. 

One  of  the  most  important  questions  that  was  ever  solved 
was  solved  by  the  great  master  of  gesture,  Delsarte;  a man 
who  made  expression  his  life  study.  In  his  direct  contact 
with  his  pupils  he  realized  the  tremendous  difflculties  to  be 
overcome  in  changing  habits  of  the  body.  An  acquired 
action  is  an  everlasting  protest  against  change,  because  con- 
sciousness in  the  manner  of  acting  is  a thing  of  the  past, 
the  whole  effort  of  the  mind  is  to  acquire  once  and  for  all, 
the  necessary  forms  through  which  to  express  itself.  Del- 
sarte’s  great  discovery  was  that  the  human  being  must  go 
back  to  the  original  condition  of  the  child,  must  reduce  the 
muscle  again  to  plasticity  and  mobility;  in  short,  must  lose 
its  already  acquired  power  in  order  to  gain  a greater.  He 
put  his  mind  upon  this  all  important  question  and  discovered 
a means  by  which  the  strong  fetters  that  constrain  and  re- 
strict muscular  action  could  be  broken. 

It  is  true  that  many  human  beings  are  impotent  because 
they  have  not  the  body  to  act,  to  respond,  their  souls  beat 


288 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


against  their  prison  houses  in  a futile  determination  to  act, 
but  they  are  helpless;  the  very  tension  induced  by  over  effort 
defeats  the  desired  end.  The  first  step  to  control  is  the  sys- 
tematic withdrawal  of  the  impulse  to  act.  When  this  with- 
drawal of  energy  through  repeated  exercise  becomes  easy 
and  the  muscular  action  is  made  elastic,  the  nerve  currents 
can  act  through  them  in  normal  directions.  The  will,  then, 
controls  the  body  and  the  thought  is  reflected  through  it. 
Perhaps  there  is  no  greater  evil  in  all  human  action  especi- 
ally in  earnest,  persislen,  strong-willed  persons,  than  over- 
strain. If  they  could  have  the  quiet  poise  of  Wendell 
Phillips  or  George  William  Curtis,  their  thoughts  would  flash 
out  control  and  sway  the  audience.  The  teacher  before  the 
class,  dead  in  earnest  to  control  the  class,  over-wrought  and 
over-strained,  wears  upon  the  nerves  of  the  whole  school 
Those  who  govern  best,  have  the  best  poise  and  are  capable 
of  the  greatest  passavily  of  physical  action.  They  are  men 
and  women  of  power  whose  every  movement  is  expressive  of 
reserve  force;  the  energy  is  there  if  needed  and  under  con- 
trol of  the  will. 

Next  to  the  power  to  change  a habit,  is  the  power  to  con- 
serve energy,  of  which  every  human  being  has  just  about  so 
much.  The  body  and  its  nervous  force  is  an  inheritance;  if 
this  nervous  force  is  wasted  along  lower  lines  it  stands  to 
reason  that  all  higher  processes,  elevation  in  mental  and 
spiritual  life  must  be  confined.  The  function  of  the  body  is 
a sacred  one.  It  is  the  medium  through  which  the  soul  re- 
ceives external  energies  and  at  the  same  time  the  medium 
through  which  it  dispenses  its  power.  Soul  does  not  help 
body  more  than  body  helps  soul.  It  is  an  absolute  neces- 
sity to  the  well  being  of  that  which  is  in  the  highest  degree 
spiritual,  that  the  body  should  be  sacredly  trained  for  its 
highest  office. 


CHAPTER  XX 


PERSONP^L  INFLUENCE 


shot  an  arrow  in  the  air; 

It  fell  on  earth,  1 knew  not  where. 

I breathed  a song  into  the  air; 

It  fell  on  earth,  I knew  not  where. 

Long,  long  afterwards,  in  an  oak, 

I found  the  arrow  still  unbroke, 

And  the  song,  from  beginning  to  end, 

I found  again  in  the  heart  of  a friend.” 

— H.  W.  Longfellow* 

H NFLUENCE  is  to  a man  what  flavor  is  to  fruit,  or  fra- 
In  grance  to  the  flower.  It  does  not  develop  strength  or 
^ determine  character,  but  it  is  the  measure  of  his  interior 
richness  and  worth  and  as  the  blossom  cannot  tell  what  be- 
comes of  the  odor  which  is  wafted  away  from  it  by  every 
wind,  so  no  man  knows  the  limit  of  that  influence  which 
constantly  and  imperceptibly  escapes  from  his  daily  life  and 
goes  out  far  beyond  his  conscious  knowledge  or  remotest 
thought.  Influence  is  a power  we  exert  over  others  by  our 
thoughts,  words  and  actions;  by  our  lives,  in  short.  It  is  a 

289 


290 


now  TO  WIN, 


4 


silent,  a pervading,  a magnetic,  a most  wonderful  thing.  It 
works  in  inexplicable  ways.  We  neither  see  nor  hear  it,  yet» 
consciously  or  unconsciously,  we  exert  it. 

Your  influence  is  not  confined  to  yourself  or  to  the  scene 
of  your  immediate  actions;  it  extends  to  others  and  will 
reach  to  succeeding  ages.  Future  generations  will  feel  the 
influence  of  your  conduct.  We  all  of  us  at  times  lose  sight 
of  this  principle  and  apparently  act  on  the  assumption  that 
what  we  do  or  think  or  say  can  affect  no  one  but  ourselves. 
But  we  are  so  connected  with  the  immortal  beings  around  us 
and  with  those  who  are  to  come  after  us,  that  we  cannot 
avoid  exerting  a most  important  influence  over  their  charac- 
ter and  final  condition,  and  thus,  long  after  we  shall  be  no 
more — nay,  after  the  world  itself  shall  be  no  more — the  con- 
sequences of  our  conduct  to  thousands  of  our  fellow-men 
will  be  nothing  less  than  everlasting  destruction  or  eternal 
life.  What  we  do  is  transacted  on  a stage  of  which  all  in 
the  universe  are  spectators.  What  we  say  is  transmitted  in 
echoes  that  will  never  cease.  What  we  are  is  influencing 
and  acting  on  the  rest  of  mankind.  . Neutral  we  cannot  be. 
Living  we  act  and  dead  we  speak,  and  the  whole  universe  is 
the  mighty  company,  forever  looking  and  listening;  and  all 
nature  the  tablets,  forever  recording  the  words,  the  deeds, 
the  thoughts,  the  passions  of  mankind. 

It  is  a high,  solemn,  almost  awful  thought  for  every  indi- 
vidual man,  that  his  earthly  influence,  which  has  a com- 
mencement, will  never  through  all  ages  have  an  end! 
What  is  done,  is  done — has  already  blended  itself  with  the 
boundless,  ever-living,  ever-working  universe  and  will  work 
there  for  good  or  evil,  openly  or  secretly,  throughout  all  time. 
The  life  of  every  man  is  as  the  well-spring  of  a stream, 
whose  small  beginnings  are,  indeed,  plain  to  all,  but  whose 
course  and  destination,  as  it  winds  through  the  expanse  of 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


291 


infinite  years,  only  the  Omniscient  can  discern.  God  has 
written  upon  the  flower  that  sweetens  the  air,  upon  the  breeze 
that  rocks  the  flower  upon  its  stem,  upon  the  rain- drop  that 
swells  the  mighty  river,  upon  the  dew-drops  that  refresh  the 
smallest  sprig  of  moss  that  rears  its  head  in  the  desert,  upon 
the  ocean  that  rocks  every  swimmer  in  its  channel,  upon 
every  penciled  shell  that  sleeps  in  the  caverns  of  the  deep» 
as  well  as  upon  the  mighty  sun  which  warms  and  cheers  the 
millions  of  creatures  that  live  in  its  light — upon  all  he  has 
written,  “None  of  us  liveth  to  himself/’ 

The  babe  that  perished  on  the  bosom  of  its  mother,  like  a 
flower  that  bowed  its  head  and  drooped  amid  the  death- 
frosts  of  time — that  babe  not  only  in  its  image,  but  in  its  in> 
fluence,  still  lives  and  speaks  in  the  chambers  of  the  moth- 
er’s heart.  The  friend  with  whom  we  took  sweet  counsel  is 
removed  visibly  from  the  outward  eye;  but  the  lessons  that 
he  taught,  the  grand  sentiments  that  he  uttered,  the  deeds  of 
generosity  by  which  he  was  characterized,  the  moral  linea- 
ments and  likeness  of  the  man,  still  survive  and  appear  in 
the  silence  of  eventide  and  on  the  tablets  of  memory  and  in 
the  light  of  noon  and  dewey  eve,  and  though  dead,  he  yet 
speaketh  eloquently  and  in  the  midst  of  us.  Everything 
leaves  a history  and  an  inflaence.  The  pebble  as  well  as  the 
planet,  goes  attended  by  its  shadow.  The  rolling  rock  leaves 
its  scratches  on  the  mountains,  the  river  its  channel  in  the 
soil,  the  animal  its  bones  in  the  stratum,  the  fern  and  leaf 
their  modest  epitaph  in  the  coal.  The  falling  drop  marks  its 
sculpture  in  the  sand  or  the  stone.  Not  a foot  steps  into 
the  snow  or  along  the  ground  but  prints,  in  characters^  more 
or  less  lasting,  a map  of  its  march.  Every  act  of  man  in- 
scribes itself  in  the  memories  of  its  fellows  and  in  his  own 
manners  and  face.  The  air  is  full  of  sounds,  the  sky  of  to- 
kens; the  ground  is  all  memoranda  and  signatures  and  every 


292 


' HOW  TO  WIN, 


object  covered  over  with  hints  which  speak  to  the  intelli- 
gent mind. 

The  sun  sets  beyond  the  western  hills,  but  the  trail  of 
light  he  leaves  behind  him  guides  the  pilgrim  to  his  distant 
home.  The  tree  falls  in  the  forest  but  in  the  lapse  of  ages 
it  has  turned  into  coal  and  our  fires  burn  now  the  brighter 
because  it  grew  and  fell.  The  coral  insect  dies,  but  the  reef 
it  raised  breaks  the  surgeon  the  shores  of  great  continents, 
or  has  formed  an  isle  on  the  bosom  of  the  ocean,  to  wave 
with  harvests  for  the  good  of  man.  We  live  and  we  die,  but 
the  good  or  evil  that  we  do  lives  after  us  and  is  not  “buried 
with  our  bones.'’ 

The  career  of  great  men  remains  an  enduring  monument 
of  human  energy.  The  man  dies  and  disappears,  but  the 
thoughts  and  acts  survive  and  leave  an  indellible  stamp  on 
his  race.  And  thus  the  spirit  of  his  life  is  prolonged  and 
thus  perpetuated,  molding  the  thought  and  will  and  thereby 
contributing  to  form  the  character  of  the  future.  It  is  the 
men  who  advance  in  the  highest  and  best  directions  who 
are  the  true  beacons  of  human  progress.  They  are  as  lights 
set  upon  a hill,  illuminating  the  moral  atmosphere  around 
them,  and  the  light  of  their  spirit  continues  to  shine  upon- 
all  succeeding  generations. 

The  golden  words  that  good  men  have  uttered,  the  exam- 
ples they  have  set,  live  through  all  time;  they  pass  into  the 
thoughts  and  hearts  of  their  successors,  help  them  on  the 
road  of  life  and  often  console  them  in  the  hour  of  death. 
They  live  a universal  life,  speak  to  us  from  their  graves  and 
beckon  us  on  in  the  paths  which  they  trod.  Their  example 
is  still  with  us  to  guide,  to  influence  and  to  direct  us.  No- 
bility of  character  is  a perpetual  bequest,  living  from  age  to 
age  and  constantly  tending  to  reproduce  its  like. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


293 


It  is  what  man  was  that  lives  and  acts  after  him.  What 
he  said  sounds  along  the  years  like  voices  amid  the  moun- 
tain gorges  and  what  he  did  is  repeated  after  him  in  ever 
multiplying  and  never  ceasing  reverberations.  Every  man 
has  left  behind  him  influences  for  good  or  evil  that  will  never 
exhaust  themselves.  The  sphere  in  which  he  acts  may  be 
small  or  it  may  be  great,  it  may  be  his  fireside  or  it  may  be 
a kingdom,  a village  or  a great  nation — but  act  he  does 
ceaselessly  and  forever.  His  friends,  his  family,  his  succes- 
sors in  office,  his  relatives  are  all  receptive  of  an  influence, 
a moral  influence,  which  he  has  transmitted  to  mankind — 
either  a blessing  which  will  repeat  itself  in  showers  of  bene- 
diction, or  a curse  which  will  multiply  itself  in  ever-accu- 
mulating eviL 

We  see  not  in  life  the  end  of  human  actions.  Their  influ- 
ence never  dies.  In  ever- widening  circles  it  reaches  beyond 
the  grave.  Death  removes  us  from  this  to  an  eternal  world. 
Every  morning  when  we  go  forth  we  lay  the  molding  hand 
on  our  destiny,  and  every  evening  when  we  have  done  we 
have  left  a deathless  impress  on  eternity.  “We  touch  not  a 
wire  but  that  it  vibrates  to  God.’’ 

Since  we  all  have  a personal  influence  and  our  words  and 
actions  leave  a well-nigh  indellible  track,  it  is  our  duty  to 
make  that  influence  as  potential  for  good  as  possible.  In 
order  to  do  this  you  must  show  yourself  a man  among  men. 
It  is  through  the  invisible  lines  which  you  are  able  to  attach 
to  the  minds  with  which  you  are  brought  into  association 
that  you  can  influence  society  in  the  direction  of  the  greatest 
good.  You  cannot  move  men  until  you  are  one  of  them. 
They  will  not  follow  you  until  they  have  heard  your  voice, 
shaken  your  hand  and  fully  learned  your  principles  and  your 
sympathies.  It  makes  no  difference  how  much  you  know, 
nor  how  much  you  are  capable  of  doing.  You  may  pile  ac- 


294 


HOW  TO  W[N, 


complishments  upon  acquisitions  mountain  high;  but  if  you 
fail  to  be  a social  man,  demonstrating  to  society  that  your 
lot  is  with  the  rest,  a little  child  with  a song  in  its  mouth 
and  a kiss  for  all  and  a pair  of  innocent  hands  to  lay  upon 
the  knees  shall  lead  more  hearts  and  change  the  direction  of 
more  lives  than  you. 

A just  appreciation  of  the  power  of  personal  influence 
leads  to  a sense  of  duty  resting  upon  all  to  see  to  it  that 
their  influence  is  exerted  in  inculcating  a proper  sense  of 
right  in  the  community  in  which  .they  live;  to  be  sure  that 
their  weight  is  constantly  cast  in  the  scale  of  right  against 
wrong;  that  they  be  found  furthering  all  matters  of  enlight- 
ened public  concern.  They  should  as  far  as  possible  walk 
through  life  as  a band  of  music  moves  down  the  street, 
flinging  out  pleasures  on  every  side  through  the  air  to  all^ 
far  and  near,  that  can  listen.  Some  men  fill  the  air  with 
their  presence  and  sweetness,  as  orchards  in  October  days 
fill  the  air  with  the  perfume  of  ripe  fruits. 

Some  women  cling  to  their  own  homes  like  the  honey- 
suckle over  the  door,  yet,  like  it,  sweeten  all  the  region  with 
the  subtle  fragrance  of  their  goodness.  Such  men  and 
women  are  trees  of  righteousness,  which  are  ever  dropping 
precious  fruits  around  them.  Their  lives  shine  like  star- 
beams,  or  charm  the  heart  like  songs  sung  upon  a holy  day. 

How  great  a beauty  and  blessing  it  is  to  hold  the  royal 
gifts  of  the  soul,  so  that  they  shall  be  music  to  some  and 
fragrance  to  others  and  life  to  all ! It  would  be  a most 
worthy  object  of  life  to  make  the  power  which  we  have 
within  us  the  breath  of  other  men’s  joys;  to  scatter  sunshine 
where  only  clouds  and  shadows  reign;  to  fill  the  atmosphere 
where  earth’s  weary  toilers  must  stand  with  a brightness 
which  they  cannot  create  for  themselves,  but  long  for,  enjoy 
and  appreciate.  There  is  an  energy  of  moral  suasion  in  a 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


295 


good  man's  life  passing  the  highest  efforts  of  the  orator's 
genius.  The  seen  but  silent  beauty  of  holiness  speaks  more 
eloquently  of  God  and  duty  than  the  tongues  of  men  and 
angels.  Let  parents  remember  this.  The  best  inheritance 
a parent  can  bequeath  to  a child  is  a virtuous  example,  a 
legacy  of  hallowed  remembrance  and  associations.  The 
beauty  of  holiness  beaming  through  the  life  of  a loved  rela- 
tive or  friend  is  more  effectual  to  strengthen  such  as  do 
stand  in  virtue’s  ways  and  raise  up  those  that  are  bowed 
down,  than  precept  or  command,  entreaty  or  warning. 

Shall  our  influence  be  for  good  or  evW?  For  good.?  Then 
let  no  act  of  ours  be  such  as  could  lead  a fellow  mortal  astray. 
It  is  a terrible  thought  that  some  careless  word,  uttered  it 
may  be  in  jest,  may  start  some  soul  on  the  downward  road. 
Oh,  it  is  terrible  power  that  we  have — the  power  of  influ- 
ence— and  it  clings  to  us.  We  cannot  shake  it  off.  It  is 
born  with  us  and  it  has  grown  with  our  growth  and  strength- 
ened with  our  strength.  It  speaks,  it  walks,  it  moves;  it  is 
powerful  in  every  look  of  our  eye,  in  every  word  of  our 
mouth,  in  every  act  of  our  lives.  We  cannot  live  to  our- 
selves. We  must  be  either  a light  to  illumine  or  a tempest 
to  destroy.  We  must  bear  constantly  in  mind  that  there  is 
one  record  we  cannot  interline — our  lives  written  on  other’s 
hearts.  How  gladly  we  would  review  and  write  a kind 
word  there,  a generous  act  here,  erase  a frown  and  put  in  a 
loving  word,  a bright  smile  and  a tender  expression.  Harsh- 
ness would  be  erased  and  gentleness  written.  But,  alas; 
what  is  written  is  written,  Clotho  will  not  begin  anew  to 
spin  the  the  threads  of  life  and  our  actions  go  forth  into  the 
world  freighted  with  their  burden  of  good  or  evil  influence. 

Character  is  one  of  the  greates  motive  powers  in  the 
world.  In  its  noblest  embodiments  it  exemplifies  human 
nature  in  its  highest  forms,  for  it  exhibits  man  at  his  best. 


296 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


It  is  the  corner-stone  of  individual  greatness — the  Doric  and 
splendid  column  of  the  majestic  structure  of  a true  and  dig- 
nified man,  who  is  at  once  a subject  and  a king.  Character 
is  to  a man  what  the  fly-wheel  is  to  the  engine.  By  the 
force  of  its  momentum  it  carries  him  through  times  of  temp- 
tation and  trial;  it  steadies  him  in  times  of  popular  excite- 
ment and  tumult  and  exerts  a guiding  and  controlling  influ- 
ence over  his  life. 

There  are  trying  and  perilous  circumstances  in  life  which 
show  how  valuable  and  important  a good  character  is. 
It  is  a strong  and  sure  staff  of  support  when  everything  else 
fails.  In  the  crisis  of  temptation,  in  the  battle  of  life,  when 
the  struggle  comes  either  within  or  without,  it  is  our  strength^ 
heroism,  virtue  and  consistency — our  character,  in  short — 
which  defends  and  secures  our  happiness  and  honor.  And 
if  they  fail  us  in  the  hour  of  need — in  the  season  of  danger 
— all  may  be  irretrievably  lost  and  nothing  left  us  except 
vain  regrets  and  penitential  tears. 

Character  is  power,  character  is  influence  and  he  who]  has 
character,  though  he  may  have  nothing  else,  has  the  means 
of  being  eminently  useful,  not  only  to  his  immediate  friends, 
but  to  society,  to  the  Church  of  God  and  to  the  world. 
When  a person  has  lost  his  character  all  is  lost — all  peace 
of  mind,  all  complacency  in  himself,  are  fled  forever.  He 
despises  himself;  he  is  despised  by  his  fellow-men.  Within 
is  shame  and  remorse;  without,  neglect  and  reproach.  He 
is  of  necessity  a miserable  and  useless  man  and  he  is  so 
even  though  he  be  clad  in  purple  and  fine  linen  and  fare 
sumptuously  every  day.  Is  is  better  to  be  poor;  it  is  better 
to  be  reduced  to  beggary;  it  is  better  to  be  cast  into  prison, 
or  condemned  to  perpetual  slavery  than  to  be  destitute  of  a 
good  name,  or  endure  the  pains  and  evils  of  a conscious 
worthlessness  of  character.  The  value  of  character  is  the 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


297 


standard  of  human  progress.  The  individual,  the  commun- 
ity, the  nation,  tell  of  their  standing,  their  advancement, 
their  worth,  their  true  wealth  and  glory,  in  the  eye  of  God, 
by  their  estimation  of  character.  That  man  or  nation  that 
lightly  esteems  character,  is  low,  groveling,  and  barbar- 
ous. 

Wherever  character  is  made  a secondary  object  sensualism 
and  crime  prevail.  He  who  would  prostitute  character  to 
reputation  is  base.  He  who  lives  for  anything  less  than 
character  is  mean.  He  who  enters  upon  any  study,  pursuit, 
amusement,  pleasure,  habit,  or  course  of  life,  without  con- 
sidering its  effect  upon  his  character  is  not  a trusty  or  an 
honest  man.  He  whose  modes  of  thought,  states  of  feeling, 
every-day  acts,  common  language,  and  whole  outward  life, 
are  not  directed  by  a wise  reference  to  their  influence  upon 
his  character  is  a man  always  to  be  watched.  Just  as  a 
man  prizes  his  character  so  is  he. 

There  is  a difference  between  character  and  reputation. 
Character  is  what  a man  is;  reputation  is  what  he  is  thought 
to  be.  Character  is  within;  reputation  is  without.  Charac- 
ter is  always  real;  reputation  may  be  false.  Character  is 
substantial  and  enduring;  reputation  may  be  vapory  and 
fleeting.  Character  is  at  home;  reputation  is  abroad.  Char- 
acter is  in  a man’s  own  soul;  reputation  is  in  the  minds  of 
others.  Character  is  the  solid  food  of  life;  reputation  is  the 
dessert.  Character  is  what  gives  a man  value  in  his  own 
eyes;  reputation  is  what  he  is  valued  at  in  the  eyes  of  others. 
Character  is  his  real  worth;  reputation  is  his  market  price. 
A man  may  have  a good  character  and  a bad  reputation;  or, 
a man  may  have  a good  reputation  and  a bad  character,  as 
we  form  our  opinion  of  men  from  what  they  appear  to  be, 
and  not  from  what  they  really  are.  Most  men  are  more 
anxious  about  their  reputation  than  they  are  about  their 


298 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


character.  This  is  not  right.  While  every  man  should  en- 
deavor to  maintain  a good  reputation,  he  should  especially 
labor  to  possess  a good  character.  Our  true  happiness  de- 
pends not  so  much  on  what  is  thought  of  us  by  others  as  on 
'what  we  really  are  in  ourselves.  Men  of  good  character  are 
generally  men  of  good  reputation,  but  this  is  not  always  the 
case,  as  the  motives  and  actions  of  the  best  of  men  are 
sometimes  misunderstood  and  misrepresented.  But  it  is 
important  above  everything  else,  that  we  be  right  and  do 
right,  whether  our  motives  and  actions  are  properly  under- 
stood and  appreciated  or  not.  Nothing  can  be  so  important 
to  any  man  as  the  formation  and  possession  of  a good  char- 
acter. 

Character  is  of  slow  but  steady  growth,  and  the  smallest 
child  and  the  humblest  and  weakest  individual  may  attain 
heights  that  now  seem  inaccessible  by  the  constant  and 
patient  exercise  of  just  as  much  moral  power  as,  from  time 
to  time,  they  possess.  The  faithful  discharge  of  daily  duty, 
the  simple  integrity  of  purpose  and  power  of  life  that  all  can 
attain  with  effort,  contribute  silently  but  surely  to  the  build- 
ing up  of  a moral  character  that  knows  no  limit  to  its  power, 
no  bonds  to  its  heroism.  The  influences  which  operate  in 
the  formation  of  character  are  numerous,  and  however  trivial 
some  of  them  may  appear  they  are  not  to  be  despised.  The 
most  powerful  forces  in  nature  are  those  that  operate  si- 
lently and  imperceptibly.  This  is  equally  true  of  those 
moral  forces  which  exert  the  greatest  influence  on  our  minds 
and  give  complexion  to  our  character.  Among  the  most 
powerful  are  early  impressions,  examples,  and  habits.  Early 
impressions,  although  they  may  appear  to  be  but  slight,  are 
the  most  enduring,  and  exert  a great  influence  on  life.  The 
tiniest  bit  of  public  opinion  sown  in  the  minds  of  children 
in  private  life  afterwards  issue  forth  to  the  world  and  become 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


290 


its  public  opinions,  for  nations  are  gathered  out  of  nurseries. 
By  repetition  of  acts  the  character  becomes  slowly  but  de- 
cidedly formed.  The  several  acts  may  seem  in  themselves 
trivial,  but  so  are  the  continuous  acts  of  daily  life. 

Our  minds  are  given  us,  but  our  characters  we  make. 
The  full  measure  of  all  the  powers  necessary  to  make  a man 
are  no  more  a character  than  a handful  of  seeds  is  an  orchard 
of  fruit.  Plant  the  seeds  and  tend  them  well  and  they  will 
make  an  orchard.  Cultivate  the  powers  and  harmonize 
them  well  and  they  will  make  a noble  character.  The  germ 
is  not  the  tree,  the  acorn  is  not  the  oak;  neither  is  the  mind 
a character.  God  gives  the  mind;  man  makes  the  char- 
acter, Mind  is  the  garden;  character  is  the  fruit.  Mind  is 
the  white  page;  character  is  the  writing  we  put  on  it.  Mind 
is  the  metallic  plate;  character  is  our  engraving  thereon 
Mind  is  the  shop,  the  counting-room;  character  is  our  profits 
on  the  trade.  Large  profits  are  made  from  quick  sales  and 
small  percentage;  so  great  characters  are  made  by  many 
little  acts  and  efforts,  A dollar  is  composed  of  a thousand 
mills;  so  is  a character  of  a thousand  thoughts  and  acts. 
The  secret  thought  never  expressed,  the  inward  indulgence 
in  imaginary  wrong,  the  lie  never  told  for  want  of  courage^ 
the  licentiousness  never  indulged  in  for  fear  of  public  rebuke, 
the  irreverence  of  the  heart,  are  just  as  effectual  in  staining 
the  heart  as  though  the  world  knew  all  about  them. 

A subtle  thing  is  character,  and  a constant  work  is  its 
formation.  Whether  it  be  good  or  bad,  it  has  been  long  in 
its  growth  and  is  the  aggregate  of  millions  of  little  mental 
acts.  A good  character  is  a precious  thing,  above  rubies, 
gold,  crowns  or  kingdoms,  and  the  work  of  making  it  is  the 
noblest  labor  on  earth.  A good  character  is  in  all  cases  the 
fruit  of  personal  exertion.  It  is  not  an  inheritance  from 
parents;  it  is  not  created  by  external  advantages;  it  is  no 


300 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


necessary  appendage  of  birth,  wealth,  talents  or  station;  but 
it  is  the  result  of  one’s  own  endeavors.  All  the  variety  of 
minute  circumstances  which  go  to  form  character  are  more 
or  less  under  the  control  of  the  individuah  Not  a day 
passes  without  its  discipline,  whether  for  good  or  for  evil. 
There  is  no  act,  however  trivial,  but  has  its  train  of  conse- 
quences; as  there  is  no  hair,  however  small,  but  casts  its 
shadow. 

Not  only  is  character  of  importance  to  its  possessor  as  the 
means  of  conferring  upon  him  true  dignity  and  worth,  but 
it  exerts  an  influence  upon  the  lives  of  all  within  its  pale, 
the  importance  of  which  can  never  be  overestimated.  It 
might  better  be  called  an  effluence;  for  it  is  constantly  radi- 
ating from  a man,  and  then  most  of  all  when  he  is  least 
conscious  of  its  emanation.  We  are  moulding  others  wher- 
ever we  are.  Books  are  only  useful  when  they  are  read; 
sermons  are  only  influential  when  they  are  listened  to;  but 
character  keeps  itself  at  all  times  before  men’s  attention,  and 
its  weight  is  felt  by  everyone  who  comes  within  its  sphere. 

Other  agencies  are  intermittent,  like  the  revolving  light, 
which  after  a time  of  brightness  goes  out  into  a period  of 
darkness;  but  character  is  continuous  in  its  operations,  and 
shines  with  the  steady  radiance  of  a star.  A good  character 
is  therefore  to  be  carefully  maintained  for  the  sake  of  others, 
if  possible,  more  than  ourselves.  It  is  a coat  of  triple  steel, 
giving  security  to  the  wearer,  protection  to  the  oppressed, 
and  inspiring  the  oppressor  with  awe.  Every  man  is  bound 
to  aim  at  the  possession  of  a good  character  as  one  of  the 
highest  objects  of  his  life.  His  very  effort  to  secure  it  by 
worthy  means  will  furnish  him  with  a motive  for  exertion, 
and  his  idea  of  manhood  in  proportion  as  it  is  elevated,  will 
steady  and  animate  his  motives.  The  pursuit  of  it  will  prove 
no  obstacle  to  the  acquisition  of  wealth  or  fame,  but  on  the 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


301 


contrary  not  only  is  the  attainment  of  a good  character  an 
almost  indispensable  thing  for  him  who  would  make  his 
mark  in  the  world,  but  such  is  the  nature  of  character  that 
the  control  over  the  acts  and  thoughts  of  an  individual, 
which  must  be  acquired  before  character  can  exhibit  inherent 
strength,  conduces  in  a very  great  degree  to  the  very  condi- 
tion which  produces  success. 

Character  is  the  grandest  thing  man  can  live  for;  it  is  to 
have  worth  of  soul,  wealth  of  heart,  diamond-dust  of  mind. 
He  who  has  this  aim  lives  to  be  what  he  ought  to  be,  and  to 
do  what  duty  requires.  To  him  comes  fame,  delighted  to 
crown  him  with  her  wreaths  of  honor.  Sum  it  up  as  we  will, 
character  is  the  great  desideratum  of  human  life.  This 
truth,  sublime  in  its  simplicity  and  powerful  in  its  beauty,  is 
the  highest  lesson  of  religion,  the  first  that  youth  should 
learn,  and  the  last  that  age  should  forget. 

It  is  of  minor  importance  what  trials  and  struggles  must 
be  passed  through  if  only  the  grand  result  is  achieved  and 
no  well-balanced  character,  can  ever  be  produced  without 
being  tested  by  hardship  and  adversity.  The  lesson  of  per- 
fect conquest  over  self,  requires  that  a man  must  learn  to 
endure  slights  and  crosses,  without  losing  his  temper  and 
when  self-control  is  perfect  without  even  seeming  to  be  dis- 
concerted by  them.  Benjamin  Franklin  who  started  in  life 
a rude  and  uneducated  lad,  acquired  such  self-command 
and  so  perfect  a manner,  that  he  met  the  crowned  heads  of 
Europe  and  won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  met  him 
by  the  dignity  and  force  of  his  character.  This  he  acquired 
by  a force  of  self-discipline;  taking  note  of  his  own  defects 
of  character  and  as  fast  as  they  were  discovered  endeavor- 
ing to  overcome  them.  How  many  men  have  the  strength 
to  do  as  he  did  and  listen  attentively  to  those  who  told  him 
of  his  faults. 


302 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


For  all  have  faults,  as  no  one  is  perfect;  but  the  man  who 
recognizes  his  faults  and  earnestly  desires  to  overcome  them 
is  laying  the  foundation  of  a character  that  will  grow  more 
perfect  day  by  day;  while  he  who  wraps  himself  in  a mantle 
of  false  pride  and  resents  the  mere  allusion  to  his  faults 
merely  displays  his  weakness  and  shows  his  own  lack  of 
proper  balance.  Some  faults  are  of  such  a nature  that  they 
merely  act  as  foils  to  show  the  strong  points  of  a character. 
Who  can  help  admiring  that  generous  hospitality  which  still 
lingers  among  the  residents  of  the  South  and  which  leads 
them  to  offer  the  best  they  have  to  a passing  guest  even 
though  they  may  be  in  dire  poverty.  Those  faults  of  char- 
acter which  should  be  shunned  more  than  all  the  rest  are 
selfishness  and  cruelty.  Much  may  be  excused  to  him  who 
is  unselfish  and  kind  in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men. 
But  a cruel  and  selfish  man  can  never  be  admirable  even  if 
he  have  every  gift  which  fortune  can  bestow,  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  will  be  long  admired  for  his  intellect  and  power, 
but  future  generations  will  learn  to  abhor  his  name  and 
career  because  it  was  stained  with  blood,  and  his  character 
was  as  selfish  as  it  was  cruel. 


CHAPTER  XXI 


KINDNESS  AND  BENEVOLENCE. 


“A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath.” 


jINDNESS  is  the  music  of  good-will  to  men  and  on 
this  harp,  the  smallest  fingers  in  the  world  may  play 
heaven’s  sweetest  tunes  on  earth.  Kindness  is  one 
of  the  purest  traits  that  find  a place  in  the  human  heart.  It 
gives  us  friends  wherever  we  may  chance  to  wander.  Whether 
we  dwell  with  the  savage  tribes  of  the  forest  or  with  civilized 
races,  kindness  is  a language  understood  by  the  former  as 
well  as  the  latter.  Its  influence  never  ceases.  Started  once, 
it  flows  onward  like  the  little  mountain  rivulet  in  a pure 
and  increasing  stream.  To  show  kindness  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  give  large  sums  of  money,  or  perform  some  wonder- 
ful deed  that  will  immortalize  your  name.  It  is  the  tear 
dropped  with  the  mother  as  she  weeps  over  the  bier  of  her 
departed  child;  it  is  the  word  of  sympathy  to  the  discour- 
aged and  the  disheartened,  the  cup  of  cold  water  and  the 
slice  of  bread  to  the  hungry  one. 

Kindness  makes  sunshine  wherever  it  goes.  It  finds  its 
way  into  the  hidden  chambers  of  the  heart  and  brings  forth 

303 


304 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


golden  treasures,  which  harshness  would  have  sealed  up  for- 
ever.  Kindness  makes  the  mother’s  lullaby  sweeter  than 
the  song  of  the  lark  and  renders  the  care-worn  brow  of  the 
father  and  man  of  business,  less  severe  in  its  expression.  It 
is  the  water  of  Lethe  to  the  laborer,  who  straightway  forgets 
his  weariness  born  of  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day. 

Kindness,  is  the  real  law  of  life,  the  link  that  connects 
earth  with  heaven,  the  true  philosopher’s  stone,  for  all  it 
touches  it  turns  into  virgin  gold;  the  true  gold,  wherewith 
we  purchase  contentment,  peace  and  love.  Would  you  live 
in  the  remembrance  of  others  after  you  shall  have  passed 
away.^  Write  your  name  on  the  tablets  of  their  hearts  by 
acts  of  kindness,  love  and  mercy. 

Kindness  is  an  emotion  of  which  we  never  ought  to  feel 
ashamed.  Graceful,  especially  in  youth,  is  the  tear  of  sym- 
pathy and  the  heart  that  melts  at  the  tale  of  woe.  We  should 
not  permit  ease  and  indulgence  to  contract  our  affection  and 
wrap  us  up  in  a selfish  enjoyment;  but  we  should  accustom 
ourselves  to  think  of  the  distresses  of  human  life  and  how 
to  relieve  them.  Think  of  the  solitary  cottage,  the  dying 
parent  and  the  weeping  child.  A tender-hearted  and  com- 
passionate disposition,  which  inclines  men  to  pity  and  to 
feel  the  misfortunes  of  others  as  its  own,  is  of  all  disposi- 
tions the  most  amiable  and  though  it  may  not  receive  much 
honor,  is  worthy  of  the  highest.  Kindness  is  the  very  prin- 
ciple of  love,  an  emanation  of  the  heart  which  softens  and 
gladdens  and  should  be  inculcated  and  encouraged  in  all 
our  intercourse  with  our  fellow-beings. 

Kindness  does  not  consist  in  gifts,  but  in  gentleness  and 
generosity  of  spirit.  Men  may  give  their  money,  which 
comes  from  their  purse  and  withhold  their  kindness,  which 
comes  from  the  heart.  The  kindness  which  displays  itself 
in  giving  money  does  not  amount  to  much  and  often  does 


Pursuit  of  Pleasure. 


library 
OF  m. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IIAINOIS 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


305 


as  much  harm  as  good;  but  the  kindness  of  true  sympathy, 
of  thoughtful  help,  is  never  without  beneficent  results.  The 
good  temper  that  displays  itself  in  kindness  must  not  be 
confounded  with  passive  goodness.  It  is  not  by  any  means 
indifferent,  but  largely  sympathetic.  It  does  not  character- 
ize the  lowest;  but  the  highest  classes  of  society. 

True  kindness  cherishes  and  actively  promotes  all  reason- 
able instrumentalities  for  doing  practical  good  in  its  own 
time,  and  looking  into  futurity,  sees  the  same  spirit  working 
on  for  the  eventual  elevation  and  happiness  of  the  race.  It 
is  the  kindly  disposed  men  who  are  the  active  men  of  the 
world,  while  the  selfish  and  the  skeptical,  who  have  no  love 
but  for  themselves,  are  its  idlers.  How  easy  it  is  for  one 
being  to  diffuse  pleasure  around  him  and  how  truly  is  one 
fond  heart  a fountain  of  gladness,  making  everything  in  its 
vicinity  to  freshen  into  smiles.  Its  effect  on  stern  natures 
is  like  the  Spring  rain,  which  melts  the  icy  covering  of  the 
earth  and  causes  it  to  open  to  the  beams  of  heaven. 

In  the  intercourse  of  social  life  it  is  by  little  acts  of 
watchful  kindness  recurring  daily  and  hourly — and  opportu- 
nities of  doing  kindness  if  sought  for  are  constantly  start- 
ing up — it  is  by  words,  by  tones,  by  gestures,  by  looks,  that 
affection  is  won  and  preserved.  He  who  neglects  these  tri- 
fles, yet  boasts  that,  whenever  a great  sacrifice  is  called  for, 
he  shall  be  ready  to  make  it,  will  rarely  be  loved.  The  like- 
lihood is  he  will  not  make  it  and  if  he  does,  it  will  be  much 
rather  for  his  owh  sake  than  for  his  neighbor’s.  Life  is  made 
up,  not  of  great  sacrifices  or  duties,  but  of  little  things,  in 
which  smiles  and  kindness  and  small  obligations,  given  ha- 
bitually, are  what  win  and  preserve  the  heart  and  secure 
comfort.  The  little  unremembered  acts  of  kindness  and 
love  are  the  best  portion  of  a good  man’s  life.  Those  little 
nameless  acts  which  manifest  themselves  by  tender  and  af- 


306 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


fectionate  looks  and  little  kind  acts  of  attention  do  much  to 
increase  the  happiness  of  life. 

Little  kindnesses  are  great  ones.  They  drive  away  sad- 
ness and  cheer  up  the  soul  beyond  all  common  appreciation. 
They  are  centers  of  influence  over  others,  which  may  accom- 
plish much  good.  When  such  kindnesses  are  administered 
in  times  of  need  they  are  like  ‘‘apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of 
silver*'  and  will  be  long  remembered.  A word  of  kindness 
in  a desperate  strait  is  as  welcome  as  the  smile  of  an  angel 
and  a helpful  hand-grasp  is  worth  a hundred-fold  its  cost, 
for  it  may  have  rescued  for  all  future  the  most  kingly  thing 
on  earth — the  manhood  of  a man. 

It  should  not  discourage  us  if  our  kindness  is  unacknowU 
edged;  it  has  its  influence  still.  Good  and  worthy  conduct 
may  meet  with  an  unworthy  or  ungrateful  return;  but  the  ab- 
sence of  gratitude  on  the  part  of  the  receiver  cannot  destroy 
the  self- approbation  which  recompenses  the  giver.  The 
seeds  of  courtesy  and  kindness  may  be  scattered  around 
with  so  little  trouble  and  expense  that  it  seems  strange  that 
more  do  not  endeavor  to  spread  them  abroad.  Could  they 
but  know  the  inward  peace  which  requites  the  giver  for  a 
kindly  act,  though  coldly  received  by  the  one  to  be  benefitted, 
would  not  hesitate  to  let  the  kindly  feelings,  latent  in  us  all, 
have  free  expression.  Kindly  efforts  are  not  lost.  Some  of 
them  will  inevitably  fall  on  good  ground  and  grow  up  into 
benevolence  in  the  minds  of  others  and  all  of  them  will 
bear  fruit  of  happiness  in  the  bosom  w’hence  they  spring. 
It  is  better  never  to  receive  a kindness  than  not  to  bestow 
one.  Not  to  return  a benefit  is  the  greater  sin,  but  not  to 
confer  it  is  the  earlier. 

The  noblest  revenge  we  can  take  upon  our  enemies  is  to 
do  them  a kindness.  To  return  malice  for  malice  and  injury 
for  injury,  will  afford  but  a temporary  gratification  to  our 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


307 


evil  passions  and  our  enemies  will  be  rendered  more  and 
more  bitter  against  us.  But  to  take  the  first  opportunity  of 
showing  how  superior  we  are  to  them  by  doing  them  a kind- 
ness or  by  rendering  them  a service,  is  not  only  the  nobler 
way,  but  the  sting  of  reproach  will  enter  deeply  into  their 
souls  and  while  unto  us  it  will  be  a noble  retaliation,  our 
triumph  will  not  unfrequently  be  rendered  complete,  not 
only  by  beating  out  the  malice  that  had  otherwise  stood 
against  us,  but  by  bringing  repentant  hearts  to  offer  them- 
selves at  the  shrine  of  friendship.  A more  glorious  victory 
cannot  be  gained  over  another  man  than  this,  that  when  the 
injury  began  on  his  part  the  kindness  should  begin  on  ours. 

The  tongue  of  kindness  is  full  of  pity,  love  and  comfort 
It  speaks  a word  of  comfort  to ' the  desponding,  a word  of 
encouragement  to  the  faint-hearted,  of  sympathy  to  the  be- 
reaved, of  consolation  to  the  dying.  Urged  on  by  a benev- 
olent heart,  it  loves  to  cheer,  console  and  invigorate  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  sorrow.  Kind  words  do  not  cost  much 
They  never  blister  the  tongue  or  lips  and  no  mental  trouble 
ever  arises  therefrom.  Be  not  saving  of  kind  words  and 
pleasing  acts,  for  such  are  fragrant  gifts,  whose  perfume  will 
gladden  the  heart  and  sweeten  the  life  of  all  who  hear  or 
receive  them.  Words  of  kindness  fitly  spoken  are  indeed 
both  precious  and  beautiful;  they  are  worth  much  and  cost 
little. 

Kind  words  are  like  the  breath  of  the  dew  upon  the  ten- 
der plants,  falling  gently  upon  the  drooping  heart,  refresh- 
ing its  withered  tendrils  and  soothing  its  woes.  Bright 
oases  are  they  in  life’s  great  desert.  Who  can  estimate  the 
pangs  they  have  alleviated,  or  the  good  works  they  have  ac- 
complished? Long  after  they  are  uttered  do  they  reverbe- 
rate in  the  soul’s  inner  chamber  and  like  low,  sweet 
Strains  of  music,  they  serve  to  quell  the  memory  of  bitter- 


308 


HOW  TO  wm\ 


ness  or  of  personal  wrong,  to  lead  the  heart  to  the  sunnier 
paths  of  life.  And  when  the  heart  is  sad  and  like  a broken 
harp,  the  chords  of  pleasure  cease  to  vibrate,  how  peculiarly 
acceptable  then,  are  kind  words  from  others. 

Who  can  rightly  estimate  the  ultimate  effect  of  one  kind 
word  fitly  spoken?  One  little  word  of  tenderness  gushing  in 
upon  the  soul  will  sweep  long  neglected  chords  and  awaken 
the  most  pleasant  strains.  Kind  words  are  like  jewels  in 
the  heart,  never  to  be  forgotten,  but  perhaps  to  cheer  by 
their  memory  a long,  sad  life,  while  words  of  cruelty  are  like 
darts  in  the  bosom,  wounding  and  leaving  scars  that  will  be 
borne  to  the  grave  by  their  victim.  Speak  kindly  in  the 
morning;  it  lightens  all  the  cares  of  the  day  and  makes  the 
household  and  other  affairs  move  along  more  smoothly. 
Speak  kindly  at  night;  for  it  may  be  that  before  dawn  some 
loved  one  may  finish  his  or  her  space  of  life  and  it  will  be 
too  late  to  ask  forgiveness.  Speak  kindly  at  all  times;  it 
encourages  the  downcast,  cheers  the  sorrowing  and  very 
likely  awakens  the  erring  to  earnest  resolves  to  do  better, 
with  strength  to  keep  them.  Always  leave  home  with  kind 
words;  for  they  may  be  the  last.  Kind  words  are  the  bright 
flowers  of  earthly  existence;  use  them  and  especially  around 
the  fireside  circle.  They  are  jewels  beyond  price  and  pow- 
erful to  heal  the  wounded  heart  and  make  the  weighed- 
down  spirit  glad. 

Doing  good  is  the  only  certain  happy  action  of  a man's 
life.  The  very  consciousness  of  well  doing  is  in  itself  ample 
reward  for  the  trouble  we  have  been  put  to.  The  enjoy- 
ment of  benevolent  acts  grows  upon  reflection.  Experience 
teaches  this  so  truly,  that  never  did  any  soul  do  good  but  he 
came  readier  to  do  the  same  again  with  more  enjoyment.  » 
.Never  was  love,  or  gratitude,  or  bounty  practiced  but  with 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


309 


increasing  joy,  which  made  the  practice!  more  in  love  with 
the  fair  act 

If  there  be  a pleasure  on  earth  which  angels  can  not  enjoy, 
and  which  they  might  almost  envy  man  the  possession  of,  it 
is  the  power  of  relieving  distress.  If  there  be  a pain  which 
devils  might  almost  pity  man  for  enduring,  it  is  the  death- 
bed reflection  that  we  have  possessed  the  power  of  doing 
good,  but  that  we  have  abused  and  perverted  it  to  purposed 
ill.  He  who  never  denied  himself  for  the  sake  of  giving  has 
but  glanced  at  the  joys  of  benevolence.  We  owe  our  super- 
fluity, and  to  be  happy  in  the  performance  of  our  duty  we 
must  exceed  it.  The  joy  resulting  from  the  diffusion  of 
blessings  to  all  around  us  is  the  purest  and  sublimest  that 
can  ever  enter  the  human  mind,  and  can  be  understood  only 
by  those  who  have  experienced  it.  Next  to  the  consolation 
of  divine  grace  it  is  the  most  sovereign  balm  to  the  miseries 
of  life,  both  in  him  who  is  the  object  of  it  and  in  him  who 
exercises  it. 

In  all  other  human  gifts  and  possessions,  though  they  ad- 
vance nature,  yet  they  are  subject  to  excess.  For  so  we  see 
that  by  aspiring  to  be  like  God  in  power,  the  angels  trans- 
gressed and  fell;  by  aspiring  to  be  like  God  in  knowledge 
man  transgressed  and  fell;  but  by  aspiring  to  be  like  God  in 
goodness  or  love  neither  man  nor  angels  ever  did  or  shall 
transgress,  for  unto  that  imitation  we  are  called.  A life  of 
passionate  gratification  is  not  to  bexornpared  with  a life  of 
active  benevolence.  God  has  so  constituted  our  natures 
that  a man  can  not  be  happy  unless  he  is  or  thinks  he  is  a 
means  of  doing  good.  We  can  not  conceive  of  a picture  of 
more  unutterable  wretchedness  than  is  furnished  by  one  who 
knows  that  he  is  wholly  useless  in  the  world. 

A man  or  woman  without  benevolence  is  not  a perfect 
being;  they  are  only  a deformed  personality  of  true  manhood 


310 


now  TO  WIN, 


or  womanhood.  In  every  heart  there  are  many  tendencies 
to  selfishness;  but  the  spirit  of  benevolence  counteracts 
them  all.  In  a world  like  this,  where  we  are  all  so  needy 
and  dependent,  where  our  interests  are  so  interlocked, 
where  our  lives  and  hearts  overlap  each  other  and  often 
grow  together,  we  cannot  live  without  a good  degree  of 
benevolence.  We  do  most  for  ourselves  when  we  do  most 
for  others;  hence  our  highest  interests,  even  from  a purely 
selfish  point  of  view,  are  i n the  paths  of  benevolence.  And 
in  a moral  sense  we  know  ‘‘that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive.’’  Good  deeds  double  in  the  doing,  and  the 
larger  half  comes  back  to  the  donor.  A large  heart  of  charity 
is  a noble  thing,  and  the  most  benevolent  soul  lives  nearest 
to  God.  Selfishness  is  the  root  of  evil;  benevolence  is  its 
cure.  In  no  heart  is  benevolence  more  beautiful  than  in 
youth;  in  no  heart  is  selfishness  more  ugly.  To  do  good  is 
noble;  to  be  good  is  more  noble.  This  should  be  the  aim  of 
all  the  young.  The  poor  and  the  needy  should  occupy  a 
large  place  in  their  hearts.  The  sick  and  suffering  should 
claim  their  attention.  The  sinful  and  criminal  should 
awaken  their  deepest  pity.  The  oppressed  and  downtrodden 
should  find  a large  place  in  their  compassion. 

Woman  appears  in  her  best  estate  in  the  exercise  of 
benevolent  deeds.  -How  sweet  are  her  soothing  words  to 
the  disconsolate!  How  consoling  her  tears  of  sympathy  to 
the  mourning!  How  fresh  her  spirit  of  hope  to  the  dis- 
couraged! How  balmy  the  breath  of  her  love  to  the  op- 
pressed! Man,  too,  appears  in  his  best  light  and  grandest 
aspect  when  he  appears  as  the  practical  follower  of  Him  who 
went  about  doing  good.  He  who  does  these  works  of  prac- 
tical benevolence  is  educating  his  moral  powers  in  the 
school  of  earnest  and  glorious  life.  He  is  laying  the  foun- 
dasion  for  a noble  and  useful  career.  He  is  planting  the 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


311 


seeds  of  a charity  that  will  grow  to  bless  and  save  the  suffer- 
ings of  our  fellow  men. 

Liberality  consists  less  in  giving  profusely  than  in  giving 
judiciously,  for  there  is  nothing  that  requires  so  strict  an 
economy  as  our  benevolence.  Liberality,  if  spread  over  too 
large  a surface,  produces  no  crop.  If  over  one  too  small  it 
exuberates  in  rankness  and  in  weeds.  And  yet  it  requires 
care  to  avoid  the  other  extreme.  It  is  better  to  be  some- 
times mistaken  than  not  to  exercise  charity  at  all.  Though 
we  may  chance  sometimes  to  bestow  our  beneficence  on  the 
unworthy  it  does  not  take  from  the  merit  of  the  act.  It  is 
not  the  true  spirit  of  charity  which  is  ever  rigid  and  circum- 
spect, and  which  always  mistrusts  the  truth  of  the  necessities 
laid  open  to  it.  Be  not  frightened  at  the  hard  word  “im- 
postor.’^ “Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters.'’  Some  have 
unawares  entertained  angles. 

A man  should  fear  when  he  enjoys  only  what  good  he 
does  publicly,  lest  it  should  prove  to  be  the  publicity  rather 
than  the  charity  that  he  loves.  We  have  more  confidence 
in  that  benevolence  which  begins  in  the  home  and  diverges 
into  a large  humanity  than  in  the  world-wide  philanthrophy 
which  begins  at  the  outside  and  converges  into  egotism.  A 
man  should,  indeed,  have  a generous  feeling  for  the  welfare 
of  the  whole  world,  and  should  live  in  the  world  as  a citizen 
of  the  world.  But  he  may  have  a preference  for  that  par- 
ticular part  in  which  he  lives.  Charity  begins  at  home,  but 
it  may  and  ought  to  go  abroad;  still  we  have  no  respect  for 
self-boasting  charity  which  neglects  all  objects  of  commiser- 
ation near  and  around  it,  but  goes  to  the  end  of  the  world  in 
search  of  misery  for  the  sake  of  talking  about  it. 

Generosity  during  life  is  a very  different  thing  from  gen- 
erosity in  the  hour  of  death.  One  proceeds  from  genuine 
liberality  and  benevolence;  the  other  from  pride  or  fear.  He 


312 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


that  will  not  permit  his  wealth  to  do  any  good  to  others 
while  he  is  living  prevents  it  from  doing  any  good  to  himself 
when  he  is  gone.  By  an  egotism  that  is  suicidal  and  has  a 
double  edge  he  cuts  himself  off  from  the  truest  pleasures 
here,  and  the  highest  pleasures  hereafter.  To  pass  a whole 
lifetime  without  performing  a single  generous  action  till  the 
dying  hour,  when  death  unlocks  the  grasp  upon  earthly 
possessions,  is  to  live  like  the  Talipat  palm-tree  of  the  East, 
which  blossoms  not  till  the  last  year  of  its  life.  It  then 
suddenly  bursts  into  a mass  of  flowers,  but  emits  such  an 
odor  that  the  tree  is  frequently  cut  down  to  be  rid  of  it. 
Even  such  is  the  life  of  those  who  postpone  their  munifi- 
cence until  the  close  of  their  days,  when  they  exhibit  a late 
efflorescence  of  generosity,  which  lacks  the  sweet-smelling 
perfume  which  good  deeds  should  possess.  And  when  it 
appears,  like  the  Talipat  flower,  it  is  a sure  sign  that  death 
is  at  hand.  They  surrender  everything  when  they  see  they 
cannot  continue  to  keep  possession  and  are  at  last  liberal 
when  they  can  no  longer  be  parsimonious.  The  truly  gen- 
erous man  does  not  wish  to  leave  enough  to  build  an  impos- 
ing monument,  since  there  is  so  much  sorrow  and  suffering 
to  be  alleviated.  They  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  what  they  give 
by  giving  it  when  alive  and  seeing  others  benefitted  thereby. 

A conqueror  is  regarded  with  awe,  the  wise  man  com- 
mands our  esteem,  but  it  is  the  benevolent  man  who  wins 
our  affection.  A benificent  person  is  like  a fountain  water- 
ing the  earth  and  spreading  fertility;  it  is,  therefore,  more  de- 
lightful and  more  honorable  to  give  than  to  receive.  The 
last,  best  fruit  which  comes  to  late  perfection,  even  in  the 
kindliest  soul,  is  tenderness  toward  the  hard,  forbearance 
towards  the  unforbearant,  warmth  of  heart  towards  the  cold, 
philantrophy  towards  the  misanthropic. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


POLITENESS,  SOCI/^BIL'TY  AND  MODESTY 


** Manners  make  the  Man.’* 

MONG  the  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which  conduce 
to  worldly  success,  there  is  no  one  the  importance  of 
which  IS  more  real,  yet  which  is  more  generally  un- 
derrated at  this  day  by  the  young,  than  courtesy — that  feel- 
ing of  kindness,  of  love  for  our  fellows,  which  expresses  itself 
in  pleasant  manners.  Owing  to  that  spirit  of  self-reliance 
and  self-assertion,  they  are  too  apt  to  despise  those  name- 
less and  exquisite  tendernesses  of  thought  and  manner  that 
mark  the  true  gentleman.  Yet  history  is  crowded  with  ex- 
amples showing  that,  as  in  literature  it  is  the  delicate,  inde  * 
finable  charm  of  style,  not  the  thought,  that  makes  a work 
immortal,  so  it  is  the  bearing  of  a man  towards  his  fellows 
that  oftentimes,  more  than  any  other  circumstances,  pro- 
motes or  obstructs  his  advancement  in  life. 

Manner  has  a great  deal  to  do  with  the  estimation  in  whicli 
men  are  held  by  the  world;  and  it  has  often  more  influence 
in  the  government  of  others  than  qualities  of  much  greater 
depth  and  substance.  We  may  complain  that  our  fellow- 
men  are  more  for  form  than  substance,  for  the  superficial 

313 


314 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


rather  than  the  solid  contents  of  a man,  but  the  fact  remains, 
and  it  is  a clue  to  many  of  the  seeming  anomalies  and  freaks 
of  fortune  which  surprise  us  in  the  matter  of  worldly  pros- 
perity. The  success  or  failure  of  one’s  plans  have  often 
turned  upon  the  address  and  manner  of  the  man.  Though 
there  are  a few  people  who  can  look  beyond  the  rough  husk 
or  shell  of  a fellow-being  to  the  finer  qualities  hidden  within, 
yet  the  vast  majority,  not  so  keen-visaged  nor  tolerant,  judge 
a person  by  his  outward  bearings  and  conduct. 

Grace,  agreeable  manners  and  fascinating  powers  are  one 
thing,  while  politeness  is  another.  The  two  points  are  often 
mistaken  in  the  occasional  meeting,  but  the  true  gentleman 
always  rises  to  the  surface  at  last.  Nothing  will  develop  a 
spirit  of  true  politeness  except  a mind  imbued  with  good- 
ness, justness  and  generosity.  Manners  are  different  in 
every  country;  but  true  politeness  is  everywhere  the  same. 
Manners  which  take  up  so  much  of  our  attention  are  only 
artificial  helps  which  ignorance  assumes  in  order  to  imitate 
politeness,  which  is  the  result  of  much  good  sense,  some 
good-nature  and  a little  self-denial  for  the  sake  of  others, 
but  with  no  design  of  obtaining  the  same  indulgence  from 
them.  A person  possessed  of  those  qualities,  though  he  had 
never  seen  a court,  is  truly  agreeable;  and  if  withuot  them 
would  continue  a clown,  though  he  had  been  all  his  life  a 
gentleman  usher. 

He  is  truly  well-bred  who  knows  when  to  value  and  when 
to  despise  those  national  peculiarities  which  are  regarded  by 
some  with  so  much  observance.  A traveler  of  taste  at  once 
perceives  that  the  wise  are  polite  all  the  world  over,  but  that 
fools  are  polite  only  at  home.  Since  circumstances  always 
alter  cases,  the  polite  man  must  know  when  to  violate  the 
conventional  forms  which  common  practice  has  established, 
and  when  to  respect  them.  To  be  a slave  to  any  set  code 


OK,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


815 


of  actions  is  as  bad  as  to  despise  them.  Perceptiveness, 
adaptation,  penetration  and  a happy  faculty  of  suiting  man- 
ners to  circumstances,  is  one  of  the  principles  upon  which 
one  must  work;  for  the  etiquette  of  the  drawing-room  differs 
from  that  of  the  office  or  railroad  car,  and  what  may  be 
downright  rudeness  in  one  case  may  be  gentility  in  the 
other. 

Benevolence  and  charity,  with  a true  spirit  of  meekness, 
must  be  one  of  the  ruling  motives  of  the  understanding;  for 
without  this  no  man  can  be  polite.  Politeness  must  know 
no  classification;  the  rich  and  the  poor  must  alike  share  its 
justice  and  humanity.  Exclusive  spirits  that  shun  those 
whose  level  in  life  is  not  on  the  same  extravagant  platform 
as  themselves,  cannot  aspire  to  the  high  honor  of  wearing 
the  name  of  gentleman.  The  truly  polite  man  acts  from  the 
highest  and  noblest  ideas  of  what  is  right. 

True  politeness  ever  hath  regard  for  the  comfort  and  hap- 
piness of  others.  ‘Tt  is,''  says  Witherspoon,  real  kindness 
kindly  expressed,"  Viewed  in  this  light  how  devoid  of  the 
virtue  are  some  who  pride  themselves  on  a strict  observance 
of  all  its  rules!  Many  a man  who  now  stands  ranked  as  a 
gentleman,  because  his  smile  is  ready  and  his  bow  exquisite, 
is,  in  reality,  unworthy  of  such  an  honor,  since  he  cares  more 
for  the  least  incident  pertaining  to  his  own  comfort  than  he 
does  for  the  greatest  occasion  of  discomfort  to  others. 

The  true  gentleman  is  recognized  by  his  regard  for  the 
rights  and  feelings  of  others,  even  in  matters  the  most  triv- 
ial. He  respects  the  individuality  of  others  just  as  he 
wishes  others  to  respect  his  own.  In  society  he  is  quiet? 
easy,  unobtrusive,  putting  on  no  airs  nor  hinting  by  word  or 
manner  that  he  deems  himself  better,  wiser,  or  richer  than 
anyone  about  him.  He  is  never  “stuck  up,"  nor  looks 
down  upon  others  because  they  have  not  titles,  honors,  or 


816 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


social  position  equal  to  his  own.  He  never  boasts  of  his 
achievements  or  angles  for  compliments  by  affecting  to  un, 
derrate  what  he  has  done.  He  prefers  to  act  rather  than  to 
talk  and  above  all  things,  is  distinguished  by  his  deep  in- 
sight and  sympathy,  his  quick  perception  of  and  attention 
to  those  little  and  apparently  insignificant  things  that  may 
cause  pleasure  or  pain  to  others.  In  giving  his  opinions  he 
does  not  dogmatize;  he  listens  patiently  and  respectfully  to 
other  men  and  if  compelled  to  dissent  from  their  opinions, 
acknowledges  his  fallibility  and  asserts  his  own  views  in  such 
a manner  as  to  command  the  respect  of  all  who  hear  him. 
Frankness  and  cordiality  mark  all  his  intercourse  with  his 
fellows  and  however  high  his  station,  the  humblest  man  feels 
instantly  at  ease  in  his  presence. 

The  truest  politeness  comes  of  sincerity.  It  must  be  the 
outcome  of  the  heart  or  it  will  make  no  lasting  impression, 
for  no  amount  of  polish  will  dispense  with  truthfulness. 
The  natural  character  must  be  allowed  to  appear  freed  of  its 
angularities.  To  acquire  that  ease  and  grace  of  manners 
which  distinguishes  and  is  possessed  by  every  well-bred  per- 
son one  must  think  of  others  rather  than  of  one’s  self  and 
study  to  please  them  even  at  one’s  own  inconvenience. 

“Do  unto  others  as  you  would  that  others  should  do  unto 
you” — the  golden  rule  of  life — is  also  the  rule  of  politeness 
and  such  politeness  implies  selTsacrifice,  many  struggles 
and  conflicts.  It  is  an  art  and  tact  rather  than  an  instinct 
and  inspiration. 

Daily  experience  shows  that  civility  is  not  only  one  of  the 
essentials  of  success,  but  it  is  almost  a fortune  in  itself  and 
that  he  who  has  this  quality  in  perfection,  though  a block- 
head, is  almost  sure  to  rise  where,  without  it,  men  of  high 
ability  fail.  “Give  a boy  address  and  accomplishment,”  says 
Emerson,  “and  you  give  him  the  mastery  of  palaces  and 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


317 


fortunes.  Wherever  he  goes  he  has  not  the  trouble  of  earn- 
ing or  owning  them;  they  solicit  him  to  enter  and  possess.’' 
Genuine  politeness  is  almost  as  necessary  to  enjoyable  suc- 
cess as  integrity  or  industry. 

We  despise  servility,  but  true  and  uniform  politeness  is 
the  glory  of  any  young  man.  It  should  be  a politeness  full 
of  frankness  and  good  nature,  unobtrusive,  constant  and 
uniform  in  its  exhibition  to  every  class  of  men.  He  who  is 
overwhelmingly  polite  to  a celebrity  or  a nabob  and  rude  to 
a laborer  because  he  is  a laborer  deserves  to  be  despised. 
That  style  of  manners  v/hich  combines  self-respect  with  re- 
spect for  the  rights  and  feelings  of  others,  especially  if  it  be 
warmed  up  by  the  fires  of  a genial  heart,  is  a thing  to  be 
coveted  and  cultivated  and  it  is  a thing  that  pays  alike  in 
cash  and  comfort. 

What  a man  says  or  does  is  often  an  uncertain  test  of 
what  he  is.  It  is  the  way  in  which  he  says  or  does  it  that 
furnishes  the  best  index  of  his  character.  It  is  by  the  in- 
cidental expression  given  to  his  thoughts  and  feelings  by  his 
looks,  tones  and  gestures,  rather  than  by  his  deeds  and 
words,  that  we  prefer  to  judge  him.  One  may  do  certain 
deeds  from  design,  or  repeat  certain  professions  by  rote; 
honeyed  words  may  mask  feelings  of  hate  and  kindly  acts 
may  be  formed  expressly  to  veil  sinister  ends,  but  the  ‘‘man- 
ner of  the  man”  is  not  so  easily  controlled. 

The  mode  in  which  a kindness  is  done  often  affects  us 
more  than  the  deed  itself.  The  act  may  have  been  prompted 
by  one  of  many  questionable  motives,  as  vanity,  pride,  or 
interests;  but  the  warmth  or  coldness  of  address  is  less 
likely  to  deceive.  A favor  may  be  conferred  so  grudgingly 
as  to  prevent  any  feeling  of  obligation,  or  it  may  be  re- 
fused so  courteously  as  to  awaken  more  kindly  feelings  than 
if  it  had  been  ungraciously  granted 


318 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Good  manners  are  well-nigh  an  essential  part  of  life  edu- 
cation and  their  importance  cannot  be  too  largely  magnified 
when  we  consider  that  they  are  the  outward  expressions  of 
an  inward  virtue.  Social  courtesies  should  emanate  from 
the  heart,  for  remember  always  that  the  worth  of  manner 
consists  in  being  the  sincere  expression  of  feelings.  Like 
the  dial  of  a watch,  they  should  indicate  that  the  works 
are  good  and  true.  True  civilty  needs  no  false  lights  to 
show  its  points.  It  is  the  embodiment  of  truth,  the  mere 
opening  out  of  its  inner  self.  The  arts  and  artificers  of  a 
polished  exterior  are  well  enough,  but  if  they  are  anything 
more  or  less  than  a fair  exponent  of  inward  rectitude  their 
hollowness  cannot  long  escape  detection. 

The  cultivation  of  manner,  though  in  excess  it  is  foppish 
and  foolish,  is  highly  necessary  in  a person  who  has  occa- 
sion to  negotiate  with  others  in  matters  of  business.  Affa- 
bility and  good-breeding  may  even  be  regarded  as  essential 
to  the  success  of  a man  in  any  eminent  station  and  enlarged 
sphere  of  life,  for  the  want  of  it  has  not  unfrequently  been 
found,  in  a great  measure,  to  neutralize  the  results  of  much 
industry,  integrity  and  honesty  of  character.  There  are  no 
doubt,  a few  strong,  tolerant  minds  which  can  bear  with  de- 
fects and  angularities  of  manner  and  look  only  to  the  more 
genuine  qualities;  but  the  world  at  large  is  not  so  forbear- 
ant  and  cannot  help  forming  its  judgments  and  likings  mainly 
according  to  outward  conduct 

It  has  been  well  remarked  that  whoever  imagines  legiti- 
mate manners  can  be  taken  up  and  laid  aside,  put  on  and 
off  for  the  moment,  has  missed  their  deepest  law.  A noble 
and  attractive  everyday  bearing  comes  of  goodness,  of  sin- 
cerity, of  refinement  and  these  are  bred  in  years,  not  mo- 
ments. It  is  the  fruit  of  years  of  earnest,  kindly  endeavors 
to  please.  It  is  the  last  touch,  the  crowning  perfection  of  a 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


319 


noble  character;  it  has  been  truly  described  as  the  gold  on 
the  spire,  the  sunlight  on  the  cornfield  and  results  only  from 
the  truest  balance  and  harmony  of  soul. 

Society  has  been  happily  compared  to  a heap  of  embers, 
which  when  separated,  soon  languish,  darken  and  expire, 
but  if  placed  together,  glow  with  a ruddy  and  intense  heat, 
a just  emblem  of  the  strength,  happiness  and  security  de- 
rived from  society.  The  savage  who  never  knew  the  bles- 
sings of  combination  and  he  who  quits  society  from  apathy 
or  misanthropic  spleen,  are  like  the  separate  embers,  dark, 
dead,  useless;  they  neither  give  nor  receive  heat,  neither 
love  nor  are  beloved. 

From  social  intercourse  are  derived  some  of  the  highest 
enjoyments  of  life.  Where  there  is  a free  interchange  of 
opinion,  the  mind  acquires  new  ideas  and  by  a frequent  exer- 
cise of  its  powers,  the  understanding  gains  fresh  vigor.  The 
true  sphere  of  human  virtue  is  found  in  society.  This  is 
the  school  of  human  faith  and  trials.  In  social,  active  life, 
difficulties  will  perpetually  be  met  with.  Restraints  of  many 
kinds  will  be  necessary  and  studying  to  behave  right  in  re- 
spect to  these  is  a discipline  of  the  human  heart  useful  to 
others  and  improving  to  itself.  It  is  good  to  meet  in  friendly 
intercourse  and  pour  out  that  social  cheer  which  so  vivifies 
the  weary  and  desponding  heart.  It  elevates  the  feelings 
and  makes  us  all  the  better  for  the  world. 

Society  is  the  balm  of  life.  Should  anyone  be  entirely  ex- 
cluded from  all  human  intercourse  he  would  be  wretched- 
Men  were  formed  for  society.  It  is  one  important  end  for 
which  they  were  made  rational  creatures.  No  man  was  made 
solely  for  himself  and  no  man  is  capable  of  living  in  the 
world  totally  independent  of  others.  The  wants  and  weak- 
nesses of  mankind  render  society  necessary  for  their  con- 
venience, safety  and  support.  God  has  formed  men  with 


320 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


different  powers  and  faculties  and  placed  them  under  differ- 
enc  circumstances,  that  they  might  be  able  to  promote  each 
other’s  good.  Some  are  wiser,  richer  and  stronger  than 
others  that  they  may  direct  the  conduct,  supply  the  wants 
and  bear  the  burdens  of  others.  Some  are  formed  for  one 
and  some  are  formed  for  another  employment  and  all  are 
qualified  for  some  useful  business,  conducive  to  the  general 
good  of  society.  The  whole  frame  and  texture  of  mankind 
make  it  appear  that  they  were  designed  to  live  in  society. 
The  longer  men  live  in  society  the  more  terrible  is  the 
thought  of  being  excluded  from  it. 

Society  is  the  only  field  where  sexes  meet  on  the  terms  of 
equality;  the  arena  where  character  is  formed  and  studied; 
the  cradle  and  the  realm  of  public  opinion;  the  crucible  of 
ideas;  the  world’s  university;  at  once  a school  and  a theatre; 
the  spur  and  the  crown  of  ambition;  the  tribunal  which  un- 
masks  pretensions  and  stamps  real  merit;  the  power  that 
gives  government  leave  to  be  and  outruns  the  Church  in  fix- 
ing the  moral  sense  of  the  people. 

Many  young  men  fail  for  years  to  get  hold  of  the  idea 
that  they  are  subject  to  social  duties.  They  act  as  though 
the  social  machinery  of  the  world  were  self-operating.  They 
see  around  them  social  organizations  in  active  existence. 
The  parish,  the  Church  and  other  bodies  that  embrace  in 
some  form  of  society  all  men,  are  successfully  operated  and 
yet  they  take  no  part  nor  lot  in  the  matter.  They  do  not 
think  it  necessary  for  them  to  devote  either  time  or  money 
to  society.  Sometimes  they  are  apt  to  get  into  a morbid 
state  of  mind,  which  disinclines  them  to  social  intercourse. 

They  become  so  devoted  to  business  that  all  social 
intercourse  is  irksome.  They  go  out  to  tea  as  if  they  were 
going  to  jail  and  drag  themselves  to  a party  as  to  an  execu- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS. 


321 


tion.  This  disposition  is  thoroughly  selfish  and  is  to  be 
overcome  by  going  where  you  are  invited,  always  and  at  any 
sacrifice  of  mere  feeling.  Do  not  shrink  from  contact  with 
anything  except  bad  morals.  Men  who  affect  your  unheal- 
thy mind  with  antipathy  will  prove  themselves  very  fre- 
quently on  mature  acquaintance  your  best  friends  and  wisest 
counsellors. 

It  is  to  be  noticed  with  what  apparent  ease  some  men  en- 
ter society  and  how  others  remain  away  always.  Such  are 
apt  to  think  that  society  has  not  discharged  its  duties  as  to 
them.  But  all  social  duties  are  reciprocal.  Society  is  far 
more  apt  to  pay  its  dues  to  the  individual  tnan  the  ind’vid- 
ual  to  society.  Have  you  who  complain  of  the  cold  selfish- 
ness of  society,  done  anything  to  give  you  a claim  to  social 
recognition.^  What  kind  of  coin  do  you  propose  to  pay  in 
the  discharge  of  the  obligations  which  come  upon  you  with 
social  recognition.^  In  other  words,  as  a return  for  what  you 
wish  society  to  do,  what  will  you  do  for  society.?  Will  you 
be  a member  of  society  by  right  or  by  courtesy.?  If  you 
have  so  mean  a spirit  as  to  be  content  to  be  a beneficiary  of 
society,  to  receive  favors  and  confer  none,  you  have  no  busi- 
ness in  the  social  circle  to  which  you  aspire. 

The  spirit  of  life  is  society;  that  of  society  is  freedom; 
that  of  freedom  the  discreet  and  modest  use  of  it.  A man 
may  contemplate  virtue  in  solitude  and  retirement;  but  the 
practical  part  consists  in  its  participation  and  the  society  it 
hath  with  others;  for  whatever  is  good  is  better  for  being  com- 
municated. As  too  long  a retirement  weakens  the  mind,  so 
too  much  company  dissipates  it.  Too  much  society  is  nearly 
as  bad  as  none.  A man  secluded  from  company  can  have 
none  but  the  devil  and  himself  to  tempt  him;  but  he  that 
converses  much  in  the  world  has  almost  as  many  snares  as 
he  has  companions.  The  great  object  of  society  is  refresh- 


322 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


merit  of  spirit.  This  is  not  to  be  obtained  by  luxury  or  by 
the  cankerous  habit  of  speaking  against  others,  but  by  a 
bright  and  easy  interchange  of  ideas  on  subjects  which,  even 
in  their  brightest  and  most  playful  aspects  are  worthy  to  en- 
gage the  thoughts  of  men. 

There  is  an  essential  vulgarity  in  one  phase  of  social  life, 
that  which  considers  the  welfare  of  the  guest’s  stomach  to 
be  the  essential  part  of  the  host’s  duty  and  the  great  ques- 
tion of  the  guests  to  relate  to  the  decorating  of  their  own 
backs.  Such  views  elevate  nobody:  they  refine  nobody; 
they  inspire  and  instruct  nobody;  they  satisfy  nobody.  This 
view  loses  sight  of  the  great  end  and  aim  of  society,  which 
is  to  refine  and  elevate  mankind,  not  to  feed  them  upon 
dainties,  or  to  enable  them  to  show  off  good  clothes.  Dean 
Swift  had  a better  relish  for  good  society  than  for  choice 
viands.  When  invited  to  the  houses  of  great  men  he  some- 
times insisted  upon  knowing  what  persons  he  was  likely  to 
meet.  ‘T  don’t  want  your  bill  of  fare,  but  your  bill  of 
company.” 

It  is  this  losing  sight  of  the  true  end  of  society  which 
causes  it  to  present  so  many  strange  anomalies.  Yet  with 
all  its  defects  it  is  well-nigh  indispensable  to  one  who  would 
wield  power  and  influence  in  the  world’s  arena.  There  is  no 
way  to  act  out  the  promptings  of  your  better  nature  and  to 
move  men  in  the  right  direction,  so  poteniial  as  that  offered 
to  the  social  man.  You  cannot  move  men  until  you  show 
yourself  one  among  them.  You  cannot  know  their  wants 
and  needs  until  you  have  mingled  with  them.  By  refusing 
to  cast  your  lot  with  others  socially,  you  are  as  powerless  to 
do  good  as- the  mountain  peak  is  to  raise  tropical  flowers. 

It  is  the  manner  of  some  to  forego  meeting  tohers  socially. 
There  will  certainly  come  a time  when  they  will  regret  ii; 
for  the  human  heart  is  like  a millstone  in  a mill.  When  you 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


323 


put  your  wheat  under  it,  it  turns  and  bruises  the  wheat  iitto 
flour.  If  you  put  no  wheat  in  it,  it  still  grinds  on;  but  then 
it  grinds  away  itself.  In  society,  the  sorrows  and  griefs  of 
others  are  the  objects  from  which  we  extract  the  flour  of 
charity  and  kindness;  but  to  the  hermit  from  society  his  own 
griefs  and  sorrows  have  the  effect  to  render  him  cold  and 
selfish.  Man  in  society  is  like  a flower-bud  on  its  native 
stalk.  It  is  there  alone  his  faculties,  expanded  in  full  bloom, 
shine  out.  ‘‘It  is  not  safe  for  man  to  be  alone.'*  In  the 
midst  of  the  loudest  vauntings  of  philosophy,  nature  will 
have  her  yearning  for  society  and  friendship.  A good  heart 
wants  something  to  be  kind  to  and  the  best  part  of  our  na 
ture  suffers  most  when  deprived  of  congenial  society. 

It  becomes  all  men  to  seek  the  general  good  of  society  in 
return  for  the  benefits  they  receive  from  it.  Though  the 
general  good  of  society  sometimes  requires  the  individual 
members  to  give  up  private  good  for  that  of  the  public,  yet 
it  always  is  to  be  supposed  that  individuals  receive  more 
advantage  than  disadvantage  from  society,  on  the  whole. 
Indeed,  there  is  scarcely  any  comparison  in  this  case.  The 
public  blessings  are  always  immensely  great  and  numerous 
They  are  more  in  number  than  can  be  reckoned  up  and 
greater  in  worth  than  can  be  easily  described. 

The  most  independent  individuals  in  society  owe  their 
principal  independence  to  society  and  the  most  retired  and 
inactive  persons  feel  the  happy  influence  of  society,  though 
they  may  seem  to  be  detached  from  it.  No  man  can  reflect 
upon  that  constant  stream  of  good  which  is  perpetually  flow- 
ing down  to  him  from  well-regulated  society,  without  feeling 
his  obligation  to  support  it.  Should  this  stream  of  happi- 
ness cease  to  flow,  the  most  careless  and  indifferent  would 
feel  their  loss  and  feel  a sense  of  their  duty  to  uphold  the 
good  of  society.  Let  the  head  of  society  cease  to  direct  and 


824 


HOW  TO  WIN 


the  hands  to  execute  and  the  other  members  of  the  public 
body  would  soon  find  themselves  in  a forlorn  and  wretched 
state 

It  has  been  remarked  that  the  modest  deportment  of  really 
wise  men  when  contrasted  to  the  assuming  air  of  the  vain 
and  ignorant  may  be  compared  to  the  difference  in  wheat, 
which,  while  its  ear  is  empty,  holds  up  its  head  proudly,  but 
as  soon  as  it  is  filled  with  grain  bends  modestly  down  and 
withdraws  from  observation  Thus,  with  true  worth  and 
merit,  it  is  uniformly  modest  in  deportment.  It  is  only  the 
shallow-pated  who  strive  to  attract  attention  by  pretentious 
claims.  The  ocean  depths  are  mute;  it  is  only  along  shal- 
low shores  that  the  roar  of  the  breakers  is  heard. 

It  is  not  difficult  to  draw  the  line  between  self-reliance 
and  modesty  on  the  one  hand,  and  self-esteem  and  arrogant 
pretensions  on  the  other.  True  self-reliance  does  not  call 
on  all  men  to  witness  its  exploits.  It  displays  itself  in  ac- 
tion. It  may  be  reserved  in  deportment,  but  quietly  and 
modestly  proceeds  in  the  path  that  wisdom  points  out,  with 
a steady  reliance  on  its  own  powers.  Not  so,  self-esteem. 
Its  boast  is  that  it  is  sufficient  for  all  things;  which,  to  be 
sure  were  not  so  bad,  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that,  when  put 
to  the  test  by  necessity  it  so  quickly  abandons  its  pretentious 
claims  and  forgetting  to  use  its  own  powers,  is  anxious  only 
for  the  aid  of  others. 

Modesty  is  a beautiful  setting  to  the  diamond  of  talents 
and  genius.  If  ‘‘honesty  be  the  best  policy,'*  we  cannot 
deny  that  modesty,  as  a matter  of  policy  even,  hath  a rare 
virtue.  What  so  quickly  commands  our  good  wishes  as 
modesty  struggling  under  discouragement,  what  our  sympa- 
thy more  than  modesty  struck  down  by  affliction;  or  what 
our  respect  and  love  more  than  modesty  ministering  to  the 
distresses  of  others?  There  is  no  surer  passport  to  the  fa- 


OR,  SCIRE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


325 


vors  of  others  than  modesty  of  deportment.  It  will  succeed 
where  all  else  has  failed  to  waken  in  the  minds  of  others  an 
interest  in  our  affairs.  It  is  to  merit,  as  shades  to  figures  in 
a picture,  giving  it  strength  and  beauty. 

Modesty  is  far  different  from  reserve.  Reserve  partakes 
more  of  the  nature  of  sullen  pride.  It  is  haughty  in  de- 
meanor and  hath  not  the  sweet,  retiring  disposition  of  mod- 
esty. A reserved  man  is  in  continual  conflict  with  the  social 
part  of  his  nature  and  even  grudges  liimself  the  laugh  into 
which  he  is  sometimes  betrayed.  The  modest  man  does  not 
refuse  to  perform  his  part  socially.  His  only  dread  is  that 
others  may  think  he  is  trying  to  center  attention  on  himself. 
The  really  modest  man  may  be  the  most  social  of  men. 
The  reserved  man  thinks  it  is  beneath  him  to  mingle  with 
the  mass  of  the  people. 

Modesty  never  counsels  real  merit  to  conceal  itself.  It 
never  bids  one  refuse  to  act  when  action  is  necessary  and 
the  person  is  conscious  that  his  powers  are  adequate  for  the 
performance  of  the  task.  Nor  when  a good  deed  is  to  be 
done  should  the  modest  man  hesitate  to  come  forward  to  do 
it,  providing  he  is  capable  of  so  doing.  Modesty  counsels 
none  to  be  backwards  where  duty  points  the  way;  but  mod- 
esty strictly  forbids  that  when  a good  or  meritorious  action  is 
done  that  the  performer  should  spread  abroad  the  story  of 
his  doings.  Leave  that  for  others  to  do. 

Bashfulness  in  itself  cannot  be  admired.  It  completely 
distrusts  its  own  powers,  whereas  we  have  seen  that  a proper 
reliance  on  self  is  at  all  times  highly  commendable.  Pash- 
fulness  in  man  is  never  to  be  allowed  as  a good  quality,  but  a 
weakness,  inasmuch  as  it  suppresses  his  virtues  and  hides 
them  from  the  world,  when,  had  he  mind  to  exert  himself, 
he  might  accomplish  much  good.  We  doubt  not  but  there 


326 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


are  many  fine  intellects  passing  for  naught  by  reason  of  theit 
bashfulness. 

Modesty  is  the  crowning  ornament  of  womanly  beaiity 
and  the  honor  of  manly  powers.  It  alike  becomes  every 
age,  giving  new  grace  to  youthful  figures  and  imparting  a 
pleasing  virtue  to  years  It  softe.ns  the  asperities  of  pov- 
erty and  is  a beautiful  setting  for  wealth  and  fortune.  It 
gives  additional  charms  to  the  possessor  of  genius  and 
talents,  or  cunningly  conceals  the  want  of  the  same.  It  is 
the  key  that  unlocks  alike  the  gate  to  success  or  the  door 
of  love  and  respect  It  makes  life  pleasant  to  the  one  who 
exercises  the  virtue  and  charities  bestowed  by  its  hand  are 
worth  far  more  to  the  recipient  than  their  mere  pecuniary 
value. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


DIGNITY  PyND  TRUE  NOBILITY 


“The  dignity  of  nnri  into  your  hands  is  given. 

Oh  keep  it  well,  with  you  it  sinks  or  lifts  itself  to  heaven.” 

— Schiller. 

IGNITY  denotes  that  propriety  of  mien  and  carriage 
which  is  appropriate  to  the  different  walks  and  ranks 
of  life.  In  regard  to  our  intercourse  with  men  we 
should  often  reflect,  not  only  whether  our  conduct  is  proper 
and  correct,  but  whether  it  is  urbane  and  dignified.  Dig- 
nity of  carriage  is  nearly  always  associated  with  high  en- 
dowments, the  reverse  is,  at  any  rate  true,  that  high  endow- 
ments are  associated  with  dignity.  “A  trifling  air  and  manner 
bespeaks  a thoughtless  and  silly  mind,’'  saitli  a Chinese 
proverb,  ‘^but  a grave  and  majestic  outside  is,  as  it  were, 
the  palace  of  the  soul.” 

True  dignity  is  never  gained  by  place  and  never  lost  when 
honors  are  withdrawn.  There  may  be  dignity  in  a hovel  as 
well  as  in  a court;  in  one  who  depends  on  the  sweat  of  his 
brow  as  well  as  one  who  is  placed,  by  reason  of  his  wealth, 
in  a position  of  independence.  In  all  ranks  and  classes  it 
is  equally  acceptable  and  worthy  of  esteem.  True  dignity 
is  without  arms  It  does  not  deal  in  vain  and  ostentatious 
parade.  In  proportion  as  we  gratify  our  own  self-esteem  by 

327 


328 


HOW  TO  WIN 


love  of  display,  we  commonly  forfeit  to  the  same  degree  the 
respect  of  those  whose  good  opinion  is  worth  possessing.  A 
dignified  manner  is  not  necessarily  an  imposing  manner;  for 
true  dignity  is  but  the  outward  expression  of  inherent  worth 
of  character,  but  an  imposing  manner  is  generally  ostenta- 
tious in  degree  and  as  such  may  be  taken  as  an  evidence  of 
imposition.  That  dignity  which  seeks  to  make  an  ostenta- 
tious display  is  often  only  a veil  between  us  and  the  real 
truth  of  things.  It  is  only  the  false  , mask  of  appearance 
put  on  to  conceal  inherent  defects. 

The  ennobling  quality  of  politeness  is  dignity.  Have  you 
not  noticed  that  there  are  some  persons  who  possess  an  in- 
expressible charm  of  manner — a something  which  attracts 
our  love  instantaneously,  when  they  have  neither  wealth, 
position,  nor  talents?  You  will  find  that  a d’gnity  of  manner 
characterizes  their  actions  and  that  a spirit  of  dignity  hovers 
around  them.  On  the  other  hand,  have  you  not  seen  per- 
sons of  wealth  who  were  surrounded  by  luxury  and  all  the 
comforts  of  affluence,  yet,  in  lacking  a spirit  of  dignity, 
lacked  the  essential  to  render  their  lives  influential  for  good? 

Where  there  is  an  inherent  want  of  dignity  in  the  charac- 
ter, how  many  distinguished  and  even  noble  acquisitions  are 
required  to  supply  its  place!  But  when  a neutral  dignity  of 
character  exists,  what  a prepossession  does  it  enlist  in  its 
favor  and  with  how  few  substantial  and  real  excellencies  are 
we  able  to  pass  creditably  through  the  world! 

There  are  three  kinds  of  dignity  which  either  adorn  or  de- 
face human  character.  There  is  the  dignity  of  etiquette 
and  good  manners,  which  is  often  of  an  artificial  kind  and  is 
a creature  of  rules  and  ceremonies  and  not  of  the  heart. 
The  second  is  the  dignity  of  pride  and  arrogance.  This  is 
a presumptions  dignity  arising  from  self-conceit  and  egotism. 
It  is  thoroughly  selfish  in  its  nature.  It  is  more  a spirit  of 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


329 


haughtiness  and  cold  reserve  than  of  true  dignity.  Then 
there  is  the  dignity  of  compassion  and  kindness.  This  is 
that  true  dignity  which  ennobles  life.  It  arises,  not  from 
selfishness,  but  from  kindness  of  heart  and  from  a sense  of 
the  importance  of  life. 

Some  men  find  it  almost  impossible  to  discover  the  line 
which  separates  dignity  from  conceit.  Dignity  is  a splendid 
personal  quality  if  it  be  of  the  right  sort.  To  possess  it  is 
to  be  above  meanness,  above  cringing,  above  anything  that 
is  low  and  unseemly.  It  holds  up  its  head,  even  among 
poverty  and  outward  shabbiness  and  looks  the  world  bravely 
in  the  face  It  is  innate  manliness  that  outward  garb  cannot 
change.  But  conceit  is  a very  different  quality  and  its  pos- 
sesssor  is  very  far  from  being  dignified,  though  he  doubtlessly 
considers  himself  to  be  so.  He  looks  upon  himself  as  the 
grand  center  of  his  social  system  and  upon  all  others  as  sat- 
elites,  whose  particular  business  is  to  revolve  around  him. 
The  assumption  may  not  take  shape  in  words,  but  it  comes 
out  in  his  manner  all  the  same.  Let  him  undertake  to  be 
amiable  and  there  is  a sort  of  royal  condescenscion;  he 
takes  the  attitude  of  stooping,  rather  than  that  of  one  reach- 
ing out  friendly  hands  to  his  equals.  All  this  would  be  of- 
fensive and  somewhat  exasperating  were  it  not  ridiculous. 
But  we  laugh  in  charitable  good  nature  and  pity  his  absurd- 
ities. There  is  little  use  in  trying  to  point  them  out  to  him. 
He  is  so  hoodwinked  by  his  overshadowing  self-esteem  that 
he  cannot  see.  True  dignity  does  not  consist  in  haughty 
self-assurance.  In  resolving  to  be  dignified  let  us  see  to  it 
that  we  strive  for  the  true  kind. 

In  counseling  dignity,  we  advise  no  spirit  of  hauteur  and 
pride,  but  we  do  counsel  such  outward  walk  and  conversa- 
tions as  shall  become  one  who  has  a just  appreciation  of  life 
and  its  possibilities  One  who  is  always  given  to  light  and 


880 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


flippant  remarks  and  always  assuming  a free  and  easy  style 
in  his  demeanor,  cannot  carry  such  an  impression  of  power 
as  one  who  bears  about  him  the  impression  cl  a man  among 
men  by  his  dignified  and  decorous  bearing. 

Its  seat  should  be  in  the  mind  and  then  it  will  not  be 
found  wanting  in  the  manner.  It  is  often  strikingly  and 
eloquently  displayed  in  the  bearings  of  those  utterly  unac- 
quainted with  the  strict  rules  of  etiquette.  If  one  has  a 
modest  consciousness  of  his  own  worth  and  a sincere  desire 
to  be  of  worth  to  others,  he  must  necessarily  display  true 
dignity  in  his  manner  and  bearing  towards  others. 

There  is  so  much  in  this  world  that  is  artificial,  so  mucn 
that  glitters  in  borrowed  light,  that  it  is  not  singular  that 
moral  greatness  and  nobility  are  often  counterfeited  by  some 
baser  metal — so  much  so  that  it  is  no  light  task  \o  discrimi- 
nate rightly  between  the  true  and  the  false  and  to  determine 
wherein  true  nobility  doth  consist.  When  we  carefully  con- 
sider the  nature  of  man,  we  readily  admit  that  it  is  in  the 
possession  of  moral  and  intellectual  powers  that  his  superior- 
ity over  the  brute  world  consists. 

In  the  society  of  his  fellow-men  man  ought  not  to  be 
rated  by  his  possessions,  by  his  stores  of  gold,  by  his  office 
of  honor  and  trust;  these  are  but  temporary  and  accidental  ad- 
vantages and  the  next  turn  of  fortur.e  may  tear  them  from 
his  grasp.  The  light  of  fame,  though  it  shines  with  ever  so 
clear  a light,  is  able  to  dispel  the  darkness  of  death  but  a 
little  ways.  The  greatest  characters  of  antiquity  are  but 
little  known.  Curiosity  follows  them  in  vain,  for  the  veil  of 
oblivion  successfully  hides  the  greater  portion  of  their  lives. 

The  world  ofttimes  knows  nothing  of  its  greatest  men. 
There  lives  were  passed  in  obscurity,  but  real  nobility  of 
character  was  theirs  and  this  is  nearly  always  unseen  and 
unknown.  He  who  in  tattered  garments  toils  on  the  way 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


381 


may,  and  often  does,  possess  more  nobility  of  spirit  than  he 
who  is  driven  past  in  a chariot.  It  is  the  mind  that  makes 
the  heart  rich  and  as  the  sun  breaks  through  the  darkest 
clouds,  so  honor  peereth  in  the  meanest  habit.  Public  mar- 
tyrdom of  every  shade  has  a certain  eclat  and  popularity 
connected  with  it  that  will  often  bear  men  up  to  endure  its 
trials  with  courage;  but  those  who  suffer  alone,  without  sym- 
pathy, for  truth  or  principle — those  who,  unnoticed  by  men, 
maintain  their  part  and,  in  obscurity  and  amid  discour> 
agement,  patiently  fulfil  their  trust — these  are  the  real  he- 
roes of  the  age  and  the  suffering  they  bear  is  real  greatness. 

It  is  refreshing  to  read  the  account  of  some  of  the  truly 
great  men  ana  women,  whose  lives  of  usefulness  have  done 
much  for  the  alleviation  of  the  world’s  misery.  And  after 
all,  there  is  no  true  nobility  except  as  it  displays  itself  in 
good  deeds.  Says  Matthew  Henry:  '‘Nothing  can  make  a 

man  truly  great  but  being  truly  good  and  partaking  of  God’s 
holiness.’'  That ‘which  constitutes  human  goodness,  human 
greatness,  and  human  nobleness  is  not  the  degree  of  en- 
lightenment with  which  men  pursue  their  own  advantages, 
but  it  is  self-forgetfulness,  self-sacrifice,  and  the  disregard  of 
personal  advantages,  remote  or  contingent,  because  some 
other  line  of  conduct  is  nearer  right.  The  greatest  man  is 
he  who  chooses  right  with  the  most  invincible  resolution; 
who  resists  the  sorest  temptations  from  within  and  without; 
who  bears  the  heaviest  burdens  cheerfully;  who  is  calmest 
in  storms,  and  most  fearless  under  menaces  and  frowns. 

Some  persons  are  great  only  in  their  ability  to  do  evil. 
Such  appears  to  have  constituted  the  greatness  of  many  of 
those  individuals  who  drenched  the  world  in  blood  that  their 
ambition  might  be  satisfied.  They  may  possess  the  most 
astonishing  mental  qualities,  yet  may  be  overruled  for  evil 
instead  of  good.  Men  of  the  most  brilliant  qualities  need 


332 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


only  a due  admixture  of  pride,  ambition,  and  selfishness  to 
be  great  only  in  evil  ways.  Energy  without  integrity  of 
character  and  a soul  of  goodness  may  only  represent  the  em- 
bodied principle  of  evil.  But  when  the  elements  of  character 
are  brought  into  action  by  a determinate  will,  and  influenced 
by  high  purposes,  a man  enters  upon  and  courageously  per- 
severes in  the  path  of  duty  at  whatever  cost  of  worldly  in- 
terests, he  may  be  said  to  approach  the  summit  of  his  being — 
to  possess  true  nobility  of  character;  he  is  the  embodiment 
of  the  highest  idea  of  manliness. 

The  life  of  such  a man  becomes  repeated  in  the  life  and 
actions  of  others.  He  is  just  and  upright  in  his  business 
dealings,  in  his  public  actions,  and  in  his  family  life.  He 
will  be  honest  in  all  things^ — in  his  works  and  in  his  words. 
He  will  be  generous  and  merciful  to  his  opponent — to  those 
who  are  weaker  as  well  as  those  stronger  than  himself.  “The 
man  of  noble  spirit  converts  all  occurrences  into  experience, 
between  which  experience  and  his  reason  there  is  marriage, 
and  the  issue  are  his  actions.  He  moves  by  affection,  not 
for  affection;  he  loves  glory,  scorns  shame,  and  govern eth 
and  obeyeth  with  one  countenance,  for  it  comes  from  one 
consideration.  Knowing  reason  to  be  no  idle  gift  of  nature, 
he  is  the  steersman  of  his  own  destiny.  Truth  is  his  god- 
dess, and  he  takes  pains  to  get  her,  not  to  look  like  her. 
Unto  the  society  of  men  he  is  a sun  whose  clearness  directs 
in  a regular  motion.  He  is  the  wise  man’s  friend,  the  ex- 
ample of  the  indifferent,  the  medicine  of  the  vicious.  Thus 
time  goeth  not  from  him  but  with  him,  and  he  feels  age  more 
by  the  strength  of  his  soul  than  by  the  weakness  of  his  body. 
Thus  feels  he  no  pain,  but  esteems  all  such  things  as  friends 
that  desire  to  file  off  his  fetters  and  help  him  out  of  prison.” 

True  nobility  of  spirit  is  always  modest  in  expression. 
The  grace  of  an  action  is  gone  as  soon  as  we  are  convinced 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


333 


that  it  was  done  only  that  persons  might  applaud  the  act. 
But  he  who  is  truly  great,  and  does  good  because  it  is  his 
duty,  is  not  at  all  anxious  that  others  should  witness  his 
acts.  His  aim  is  to  do  good  because  it  is  right.  His  nobility 
does  not  show  itself  in  waiting  and  watching  for  some  chance 
to  do  a great  good  at  once.  Greatness  can  only  be  rightly 
esimated  when  minuteness  is  justly  reverenced.  Greatness 
is  the  aggregation  of  minuteness;  nor  can  its  sublimity  be 
felt  truthfully  bv  any  mind  unaccustomed  to  the  watching  of 
what  is  least.  His  nobility  consists  in  being  great  in  little 
things.  All  the  little  details  of  life  are  attended  to,  and  thus 
the  soul  is  prepared  for  great  ones.  There  is  more  true  no- 
bility in  duty  faithfully  done  than  in  any  one  great  act  when 
others  are  looking  on  and  signifying  their  approval,  and  thus 
by  their  sympathy  spurring  the  soul  on  to  greater  exertions. 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  a truly  great  character,  and 
not  think  of  one  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  kindness.  Nobility 
of  spirit  will  not  dwell  with  the  haughty  in  manner.  It  de- 
lights to  take  up  its  abode  with  the  generous  and  tender- 
hearted; those  who  seek  to  relieve  the  misery  of  others  as 
they  would  their  own.  If  you  contrast  the  career  of  Na- 
poleon Bonaparte  and  Florence  Nightingale,  though  one 
filled  all  Europe  with  the  terror  of  his  name,  doubt  not  that 
in  the  scale  of  moral  greatness  the  latter  far  outweighs  the 
former.  Kindness  is  the  most  powerful  instrument  in  the 
world  to  move  men*s  hearts,  and  a word  in  kindness  spoken 
will  often  do  more  for  the  furtherance  of  your  cause  than  any 
amount  of  angry  reasoning.  Therefore,  it  is  not  singular 
that  one  whose  whole  life  is  spent  in  the  exercise  of  kindness 
should  possess  a peculiar  power  over  the  lives  of  others — in 
effect,  wield  such  an  influence  over  them  as  marks  him  as 
one  of  the  truly  great. 

Nobility  of  character  is  also  reverential.  The  possession 
of  th  s quality  also  marks  the  noblest  and  highest  type  of 


334 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


manhood  and  womanhood.  Reverence  for  things  consecra- 
ted by  the  homage  of  generations,  for  high  objects,  pure 
thoughts  and  noble  aims,  for  the  great  men  of  former  times 
and  the  high  minded  workers  among  our  contemporaries. 
Reverence  is  alike  indispensable  to  the  happiness  of  indi- 
viduals, of  families  and  of  nations.  Without  it  there  can 
be  no  trust,  no  faith,  no  confidence,  either  in  God  or  man — 
neither  social  peace  nor  social  progress.  Reverence  is  but 
another  name  for  love,  which  binds  men  to  each  other,  and 
all  to  God. 

The  rewards  of  a life  of  moral  greatness  rests  with  pos- 
terity. Great  men  are  like  the  oaks,  under  the  branches  of 
which  men  are  happy  in  finding  a refuge  in  times  of  storm 
and  rain.  But  when  the  danger  is  past  they  take  pleasure 
in  cutting  the  bark  and  breaking  the  branches.  As  long  as 
human  nature  is  such  a mass  of  contradictions  this  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at.  But  the  influence  of  such  men  is  ever 
working  and  will  sooner  or  later  show  itself.  Men  such 
as  these  are  the  true  life-blood  of  the  country  to  which  they 
belong.  They  elevate  and  uphold  it,  fortify  and  ennoble  it^ 
and  shed  a glory  over  it  by  the  example  of  life  and  charac- 
ter which  they  have  bequeathed  to  it.  “The  names  and 
manners  of  great  men,''  says  an  able  writer,  “are  the  dowry 
of  a nation."  Whenever  national  life  begins  to  quicken,  the 
dead  heroes  rise  in  the  memory  of  men.  These  men  of  no- 
ble principles  are  the  salt  of  the  earth.  In  death,  as  well  as 
life,  their  example  lives  in  their  country,  a stimulus  and  en- 
couragement to  all  who  have  the  soul  to  adopt  it. 

Nobility  of  character  is  within  the  reach  of  all.  It  is  the 
result  of  patient  endeavors  after  a life  of  goodness,  and 
when  acquired,  cannot  be  swept  away  unless  by  the  consent 
of  its  possessor.  Wealth  may  be  lost  by  no  fault  of  its  pos_ 
sessor,  but  grea/^ness  of  soul  is  an  abiding  quality.  One 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


335 


may  fail  in  his  other  aims;  the  many  accidents  of  life  may 
bring  to  naught  his  most  patient  endeavors  after  worldly 
fame  or  success;  but  he  who  strives  for  nobility  of  character 
will  not  fail  of  reward,  if  he  but  diligently  seek  the  same  by 
earnest  resolve  and  patient  labor.  Is  there  not  in  this  a 
lesson  of  patience  for  many  who  are  almost  weary  of  striv- 
ing for  better  things?  If  success  does  not  crown  their  am- 
bitious efforts,  will  they  not  be  sustained  by  the  smile  of  an 
approving  conscience?  Strong  in  this,  they  can  wait  with 
patience  till,  in  the  fullness  of  time,  their  reward  cometh. 

There  is  a wave  of  new  thought  sweeping  over  the  land 
and  the  old  standards  of  success  are  being  weighed  in  the 
balance  and  found  wanting.  The  craze  for  wealth,  the  thirst 
for  gold,  is  appearing  to  the  truly  advanced  soul  among  men 
as  unutterably  foolish  and  unworthy.  The  student  of  Per- 
sonal Magnetism  learns  to  know  what  the  true  wealth  which 
enriches  human  life  consists  of  and  he  values  gold  as  some- 
thing infinitely  inferior  to  the  power  which  inheres  in  the 
meanest  and  most  degraded  human  soul.  In  these  days 
when  men  are  so  madly  crowding  each  other  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  gold,  we  need  some  of  the  spirit  that  inspired 
Quintius  Curtius,  that  noble  Roman  warrior,  who  when  told 
that  the  choicest  treasures  of  Rome  must  be  thrown  into  the 
yawning  crevasse  opened  in  the  forum  by  an  earthquake,  ex- 
claimed: “What  greater  treasure  does  Rome  possess  than 

the  manhood  and  valor  of  her  sons.”  So  mounting  his  horse 
and  in  full  armor,  he  leaped  into  the  abyss  and  was  never 
heard  of  more. 

That  wealth  is  truest  and  most'  valuable,  which  adds  to 
the  power  and  ability  to  enjoy  life.  Happiness  is  coveted  by 
all  and  he  is  the  best  teacher  who  teaches  truly  the  way  in 
which  it  may  be  obtained,  but  happiness  can  only  be  secured 
by  working  in  harmony  w th  natural  law,  and  that  law  is  so 


336 


HOW  TO  WIN 


often  unknown  to  those  who  desire  power  and  knowledge, 
that  they  seek  in  vain.  But  the  path  is  plain  to  those  who 
have  made  Occult  Science  a life  study  and  our  knowledge  is 
gladly  given  to  assist  those  deserving  ones  who  earnestly 
desire  higher  light  and  knowledge.  A study  of  Personal 
Magnetism  will  dispel  all  doubt  and  lead  you  upward  by 
easy  steps  until  you  feel  within  this  power,  which  will  regen- 
erate your  life  and  make  every  true  and  worthy  ambition 
possible  of  attainment. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

SELF-CONTROL,  COUI^AGE  AND  AMBITION. 


‘ These  multiply  the  chances  of  success,” 

ELF-CONTROL  is  the  highest  form  of  courage.  It 
is  the  base  of  ail  the  virtues.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
important  but  one  of  the  most  difficult  things  for  a 
powerful  mind  to  be  its  own  master.  If  he  reigns  within 
himself  and  rules  passions,  desires  and  fears,  he  is  more 
than  a king. 

Too  often  self  control  is  made  to  mean  only  the  control  of 
angry  passions,  but  that  is  simply  one  form  of  self-control; 
in  another — a higher  and  more  complete  sense — it  means  the 
control  over  all  the  passions,  appetites  and  impulses.  True 
wisdom  ever  seeks  to  restrain  one  from  blindly  following  his 
own  impulses  and  appetites,  even  those  which  are  moral  and 
intellectual,  as  well  as  those  which  are  animal  and  sensual 
In  the  supremacy  of  self-control  consists  one  of  the  perfec- 
tions of  the  ideal  man.  Not  to  be  impulsive,  not  to  be 
spurred  hither  and  thither  by  each  desire  that  in  turn  comes 
uppermost  but  to  be  self-restrained,  self-balanced,  governed 
by  the  joined  decision  of  the  feelings  in  council  assembled, 
before  whom  every  action  shall  have  been  fully  debated  and 
calmly  determined,  this  is  true  strength  and  wisdom. 

337 


338 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Mankind  are  endowed  by  the  Creator  with  qualities  which 
raise  them  infinitely  higher  in  the  scale  of  importance  than 
any  other  members  of  the  animal  world.  They  are  given 
reason  as  a guide  to  follow  rather  than  instinct.  But  if  men 
give  the  reins  to  their  impulses  and  passions,  from  that  mo- 
ment they  surrender  this  high  prerogative.  They  are  carried 
along  the  current  of  their  life  and  become  the  slaves  of  their 
strongest  desires  for  the  time  being.  To  be  morally  free — 
to  be  more  than  animal — man  must  be  able  to  resist  instinct- 
ive impulses.  This  can  only  be  done  by  the  exercise  of 
self* control.  Thus  it  is  this  power  that  constitutes  the  real 
distinction  between  a physical  and  a moral  life,  and 
that  forms  the  primary  basis  of  individual  character.  Nine- 
tenths  of  the  vicious  desires  that  degrade  society  and  the 
crimes  that  disgrace  it,  would  shrink  tnto  insignificance  be- 
fore the  advance  of  valiant  self-discipline,  self-respect,  and 
self-control. 

It  is  necessary  to  one’s  personal  happiness  to  exercise  con- 
trol over  his  words  as  well  as  his  acts,  for  there  are  words 
that  strike  even  harder  than  blows,  and  men  may  “speak 
daggers,”  even  though  they  use  none.  Character  exhibits 
itself  in  control  of  speech  as  much  as  anything  else.  The 
wise  and  forbearant  man  will  restrain  his  desire  to  say  a 
smart  or  severe  thing  at  the  expense  of  another’s  feelings, 
while  the  fool  speaks  out  what  he  thinks  and  will  sacrifice 
his  friend  rather  than  his  joke.  There  are  men  who  are 
headlong  in  their  language  as  in  their  actions  because  of  the 
want  of  forbearance  and  self-restraining  patience. 

Government  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  progress.  The  state  or 
nation  that  has  the  best  government  progresses  most;  so  the 
individual  who  governs  best  himself  makes  the  most  rapid 
progress.  The  native  energies  of  the  human  soul  press  it  to 
activity;  controlled  they  bear  it  forward  in  right  paths;  un- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


339 


controlled  they  urge  it  on  to  probable  destruction.  No  man 
is  free  who  has  not  the  command  over  himself,  but  allows 
his  appetites  or  his  temper  to  control  him;  and  to  triumph 
over  these  is  of  all  conquests  the  most  glorious.  He  who  is 
enslaved  to  his  passions  is  worse  than  Athens  was  by  her 
thirty  tyrants.  He  who  indulges  his  sense  in  any  excesses 
renders  himself  obnoxious  to  his  own  reason,  and  to  gratify 
the  brute  in  him  displeases  the  man  and  sets  his  two  natures 
at  variance.  We  ought  not  to  sacrifice  the  sentiments  of 
the  soul  to  gratify  the  appetites  of  the  body.  Passions  are 
excellent  servants,  and  when  properly  trained  and  disciplined 
are  capable  of  being  applied  to  noble  purposes;  but  when 
allowed  to  become  masters  they  are  dangerous  in  the 
extreme. 

To  resist  strong  impulses,  to  subdue  powerful  passions,  to 
silence  the  voice  of  vehement  desire,  is  a strong  and  noble 
virtue.  And  the  virtue  rises  in  height,  beauty  and  grandeur 
in  proportion  to  the  strength  of  the  impulses  subdued.  True 
virtue  is  not  always  visible  to  the  gaze  of  the  world.  It  is 
often  still  and  calm.  Composure  is  often  the  highest  result 
of  power  and  there  are  seasons  when  to  be  still  demands 
immeasurably  higher  strength  than  to  act.  Think  you  it  de- 
mands no  power  to  calm  the  stormy  elements  of  passions;  to 
throw  off  the  load  of  dejection,  to  repress  every  repining 
thought  when  the  dearest  hopes  are  withered,  and  to  turn 
the  wounded  spirit  from  dangerous  reveries  and  wasting 
grief  to  the  quiet  discharge  of  ordinary  duties?  Is  there  no 
power  put  forth  when  a man,  stripped  of  his  property — of 
the  fruits  of  a life’s  labor — quells  discontent  and  gloomy 
forebodings  and  serenely  and  patiently  returns  to  the  task 
which  providence  assigns?  We  doubt  not  that  the  all-seeing 
eye  of  Gjd  sometimes  discerns  the  sublimest  human  energy 
under  a form  and  countenanee  which,  by  their  composure 


340 


HOW  TO  WIN 


and  tranquility,  indicate  to  the  human  spectator  only  passive 
virtues.  Individuals  who  have  attained  such  power  are 
among  the  great  ones  of  earth. 

Strength  of  character  consists  of  two  things — power  of 
will  and  power  of  self-restraint.  It  requires  two  things, 
therefore,  for  its  existence — strong  feelings  and  strong  com- 
mand over  them  Ofttimes  we  mistake  strong  feelings  for 
strong  character.  He  is  not  a strong  man  who  bears  all  be- 
fore him,  at  whose  frown  domestics  tremble  and  the  children 
of  the  household  quake;  on  the  contrary,  he  is  a weak  man. 
It  is  his  passions  that  are  strong;  he,  mastered  by  them,  is 
weak.  You  must  measure  the  strength  of  a man  by  the 
power  of  the  feelings  he  subdues,  not  by  the  power  of  those 
that  subdue  him. 

Did  we  ever  see  a man  receive  a flagrant  injury  and  then 
reply  calmly.^  That  is  a man  spiritually  strong.  Or  did  we 
ever  see  a man  in  anguish  stand  as  if  carved  out  of  solid 
rock  mastering  himself,  or  one  bearing  a hopeless  daily  trial 
remain  silent  and  never  tell  the  world  what  cankered  his 
peace.^  That  is  strength  He  who  with  strong  passions  re- 
mains chaste,  he  who.  keenly  sensitive,  with  manly  powers 
indignation  in  him,  can  be  provoked  and  yet  restrain  him- 
self and  forgive,  these  are  strong  men,  the  spiritual  heroes. 

A strong  temper  is  not  necessarily  a bad  temper.  But  the 
stronger  the  temper  the  greater  is  the  need  of  self-discipline 
and  self-control.  Strong  temper  may  only  mean  a strong  and 
excitable  will.  Uncontrolled  it  displays  itself  in  fitful  out- 
breaks of  passion;  but  controlled  and  held  in  subjection, 
like  steam  pent  up  in  the  mechanism  of  a steam  engine,  it 
becomes  the  source  of  energetic  power  and  usefulness. 
Some  of  the  greatest  characters  in  history  have  been  men  of 
strong  tempers,  but  with  equal  strength  of  determination  to 
hold  their  motive  power  under  strict  regulation  and  control. 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


341 


He  is  usually  a moral  weakling  who  has  no  strong  desires  or 
strong  temper  to  overcome;  but  he  who  with  these  fails  to 
subdue  them  is  speedily  ruined  by  them. 

Man  is  born  for  dominion;  but  he  must  enter  it  by  con- 
quest and  continue  to  do  battle  for  every  inch  of  ground 
added  to  his  sway.  His  infant  exertions  are  put  forth  to 
establish  the  authority  of  his  will  over  his  physical  powers. 
His  after  efforts  are  for  the  subjection  of  the  will  to  the 
judgment.  There  are  times  which  come  to  all  of  us  when 
our  will  is  not  completely  fashioned  to  our  hands  and  the 
restless  passions  of  the  mind  hold  us  in  sway — seasons  when 
all  of  us  do  and  say  things  which  are  unbecoming,  unseemly 
and  which  lower  and  debase  us  in  the  opinions  of  others 
and  also  of  ourselves.  Self-control,  however,  is  a virtue 
which  will  become  ours  if  we  cultivate  it  properly,  if  we 
strive  right  manfully  for  its  possession;  fight  a bitter  warfare 
against  irritability,  nervousness,  jealousy  and  all  unkind- 
ness of  heart  and  soul.  But  it  must  be  cultivated  properly. 
One  exercise  of  it  will  not  win  us  the  victory.  We  must 
by  constant  repetition  of  efforts,  obtain  at  last  the  victory 
which  will  bring  us  repose,  which  will  enable  us  to  say  to 
the  raging  waves  of  passion;  *‘Thus  far  canst  thou  come  and 
no  farther,”  We  must  be  faithful  to  ourselves,  faithful  in 
our  watch  and  ward  over  tongue,  eye  and  hand.  It  is  only 
by  so  doing  that  man  comes  to  the  full  development  of  his 
powers.  It  is  alike  the  duty  and  birthright  of  man.  Mode 
ration  in  all  things  and  regulating  the  actions  only  by  the 
judgment,  are  the  most  eminent  parts  of  wisdom.  “He  that 
ruleth  his  own  spirit  is  greater  than  he  that  taketh  a city.” 

Courage  consists  not  in  hazarding  without  fear,  but  be- 
ing resolutely  minded  in  a just  cause.  The  brave  man  is 
not  he  who  feels  no  fear — for  that  were  stupid  and  irrational 
— but  he  whose  noble  soul  subdues  its  fears  and  bravely  dares 


342 


HOW  TO  WIN 


tne  dangers  nature  shrinks  from.  True  courage  is  cool  and 
calm.  The  bravest  of  men  have  the  least  of  a brutal,  bullying 
insolence,  and  in  the  very  time  of  danger  are  found  the 
most  serene  and  free.  Rage  can  make  a coward  forget  him- 
self and  fight.  But  what  is  done  in  fury  or  anger  can  never 
be  placed  to  the  account  of  courage. 

Courage  enlarges,  cowardice  diminishes  resources.  In 
desperate  straits  the  fears  of  the  timid  aggravate  the  dan- 
gers that  imperil  the  brave.  For  cowards  the  road  of  deser- 
tion should  be  kept  open.  They  will  carry  over  to  the  enemy 
nothing  but  their  fears;  the  poltroon,  like  the  scabbard,  is  an 
incumbrance  when  once  the  sword  is  drawn.  It  is  the  same 
in  the  everyday  battles  of  life;  to  believe  a business  impos- 
sible is  the  way  to  make  it  so.  How  many  feasible  projects 
have  miscarried  through  despondency  and  been  strangled  in 
the  birth  by  a cowardly  imagination!  It  is  better  to  meet 
danger  than  to  wait  for  it.  A ship  on  a lee  shore  stands  out 
to  sea  in  a storm  to  escape  shipwreck.  Impossibilities,  like 
vicious  dogs,  fly  before  him  who  is  not  afraid  of  them. 
Should  misfortune  overtake,  retrench,  work  harder,  but  never 
fly  the  track.  Confront  difficulties  with  unflinching  perse- 
verance. Should  you  then  fail,  you  will  be  honored;  but 
shrink  and  you  will  be  despised.  When  you  put  your  hands 
to  a work,  let  the  fact  of  your  doing  so  constitute  the  evi- 
dence that  you  mean  to  prosecute  it  to  the  end.  They  that 
fear  an  overthrow  are  half  conquered. 

No  one  can  tell  who  the  heroes  are  and  who  the  cowards, 
until  some  crisis  comes  to  put  us  to  the  test.  And  no  crisis 
puts  us  to  the  test  that  does  not  bring  us  up,  alone  and 
single-handed  to  face  danger.  It  is  comparatively  nothing 
to  make  a rush  with  the  multitude,  even  into  the  jaws  of 
destruction.  Sheep  will  do  that.  Armies  can  be  picked 
from  the  gutters  and  marched  up  as  food  for  powder.  But 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


343 


when  some  crisis  singles  out  one  from  the  multitude,  point- 
ing at  him  the  particular  finger  of  fate  and  telling  him, 
“stand  or  run,”  and  he  faces  about  with  steady  nerve,  with 
nobody  else  to  stand  behind,  we  may  be  sure  the  hero  stuff  is 
in  him.  When  such  crises  come,  the  true  courage  is  just  as 
likely  to  be  found  in  people  of  shrinking  nerves,  or  in  weak 
and  timid  women,  as  in  great,  burly  people.  It  is  a moral, 
not  a physical  trait.  Its  seat  is  not  in  the  temperament,  but 
the  will. 

Some  people  imagine  that  courage  is  confined  to  the  field 
of  battle.  There  could  be  no  greater  mistake.  Even  con- 
tentious men — unavoidably  contentious — are  not  by  any 
means  limited  to  the  battlefield.  And  there  are  other  strug- 
gles with  adverse  circumstances — struggles,  it  may  be,  with 
habits  or  appetites  or  passions — all  of  which  require  as  much 
courage  and  more  perseverance  than  the  brief  encounter  of 
battle.  Enough  to  contend  with,  enough  to  overcome,  lies 
in  the  pathway  of  every  individual.  It  may  be  one  kind  of 
difficulties  or  it  may  be  another,  but  plenty  of  difficulties  of 
some  kind  or  other  everyone  may  be  sure  of  finding  through 
life.  There  is  but  one  way  of  looking  at  fate,  whatever  that 
may  be,  whether  blessings  or  afflictions,  to  behave  with  dig- 
nity under  both.  We  must  not  lose  heart,  or  it  will  be  the 
worse  both  for  ourselves  and  for  those  whom  we  love.  To 
struggle,  and  again  and  again  renew  the  conflict,  this  is  life's 
inheritance.  He  who  never  falters,  no  matter  how  adverse 
may  be  the  circumstances,  always  enjoys  the  consciousness 
of  a perpetual  spiritual  triumph,  of  which  nothing  can  de- 
prive him. 

Though  the  occasions  of  high  heroic  daring  seldom  occur 
but  in  the  history  of  the  great,  the  less  obtrusive  opportuni- 
ties for  the  exercise  of  private  energy  are  continually  offer- 
ing themselves.  With  these  domestic  scenes  as  much 


844 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


abound  as  does  the  tented  field.  Pain  may  be  as  firmly  en- 
dured in  the  lonely  chamber  as  amid  the  din  of  arms.  Dif- 
ficulties can  be  manfully  combated,  misfortune  bravely  sus- 
tained, poverty  nobly  supported,  disappointments  courage- 
ously encountered.  Thus  courage  diffuses  a wide  and 
succoring  influence  and  bestows  energy  apportioned  to  the 
trial.  It  takes  from  calamity  its  dejecting  quality  and  en- 
ables the  soul  to  possess  itself  under  every  vicissitude.  It 
rescues  the  unhappy  from  degredation  and  the  feeble  from 
contempt. 

The  greater  part  of  the  courage  that  is  needed  in  the 
world  is  not  of  an  heroic  kind.  There  needs  the  common 
courage  to  be  honest,  the  courage  to  resist  temptation,  the 
courage  to  speak  the  truth,  the  courage  to  be  what  we  really 
are  and  not  pretend  to  be  what  we  are  not,  the  courage  to 
live  honestly  within  our  own  means  and  not  dishonestly  upon 
the  means  of  others.  The  courage  that  dares  to  display 
itself  in  silent  effort  and  endeavor,  that  dares  to  do  all  and 
suffer  all  for  truth  and  duty,  is  more  heroic  than  the  achieve- 
ments of  physical  valor,  which  are  rewarded  by  honors  and 
titles,  or  by  laurels  sometimes  steeped  in  blood.  It  is  moral 
courage  that  characterizes  the  highest  order  of  manhood  and 
r^omanhood.  Intellectual  intrepidity  is  one  of  the  vital  con- 
didons  of  independence  and  self-reliance  of  character.  A 
man  must  have  the  courage  to  be  himself  and  not  the  shadow 
or  the  echo  of  another.  He  must  exercise  his  own  powers, 
think  his  own  thoughts  and  speak  his  own  sentiments.  He 
must  elaborate  his  own  opinions  and  form  his  own  convictions. 

It  has  been  said  that  he  who  dares  not  form  an  opinion 
must  be  a coward;  he  who  will  not  must  be  an  idler;  he  who 
cannot  must  be  a fool.  Every  enlargement  of  the  domain 
of  knowledge  which  has  made  us  better  acquainted  with  the 
heavens,  with  the  earth  and  with  ourselves,  has  been  estab- 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


345 


lished  by  the  energy,  the  devotion,  the  self-sacrifice  and  the 
courage  of  the  great  spirits  of  past  times,  who,  however 
much  they  may  have  been  oppressed  or  reviled  by  their  con- 
temporaries, now  rank  among  those  whom  the  enlightened 
of  the  human  race  most  delight  to  honor. 

The  passive  endurance  of  the  man  or  woman  who  for 
conscience’s  sake  is  found  ready  to  suffer  and  endure  in  sol- 
itude, without  so  much  as  the  encouragement  of  even  a 
single  sympathizing  voice,  is  an  exhibition  of  courage  of  a 
far  higher  kind  than  that  displayed  in  the  roar  of  battle, 
where  even  the  weakest  feels  encouraged  and  inspired  by 
the  enthusiasm  of  sympathy  and  the  power  of  numbers. 
Time  would  fail  to  tell  of  the  names  of  those  through  faith 
in  principles  and  in  the  face  of  difficulties,  dangers  and  suf- 
ferings, have  fought  a good  fight  in  the  moral  warfare  of  the 
world  and  been  content  to  lay  down  their  lives  rather  than 
prove  false  to  their  conscientious  convictions  of  the  truth. 

The  patriot  who  fights  an  always  losing  battle,  the  martyr 
who  goes  to  death  amid  the  triumphant  shouts  of  his  ene- 
mies, the  discoverer,  like  Columbus,  whose  heart  remains 
undaunted  through  years  of  failure,  are  examples  of  the 
moral  sublime  which  excites  a profounder  interest  in  the 
hearts  of  men  than  even  the  most  complete  and  conspicu- 
ous success.  By  the  side  of  such  instances  as  these,  how” 
small  by  comparison  seem  the  greatest  deeds  of  valor,  incit- 
ing men  to  rush  upon  death  and  die  amid  the  frenzied 
excitement  of  physical  warfare. 

There  is  a ^arge  element  of  deception  in  all  ambitious 
schemes,  for  ofttimes,  when  at  the  summit  of  ambition,  one 
is  at  the  depths  of  despair  and  the  showy  results  of  a suc- 
cessful pursuit  of  ambition  are  sometimes  but  gilded  misery» 
the  casing  of  despair.  The  history  of  ambition  is  written 
in  characters  of  blood.  It  may  be  designated  as  one  of  the 


346 


HOW  TO  WIN 


vices  of  small  minds,  illiberal  and  unacquainted  with  man- 
kind. It  is  a solitary  vice.  The  road  ambition  travels  is 
too  narrow  for  friendship,  too  crooked  for  love,  too  rugged  for 
honesty,  too  dark  for  science  and  too  hilly  for  happiness. 

Those  who  pursue  ambition  as  a means  of  happiness 
awake  to  a far  different  reality.  The  wear  and  tear  of  hearts 
is  never  recompensed.  It  steals  away  the  freshness  of  life; 
it  deadens  its  vivid  and  social  enjoyments;  it  shuts  our  souls 
to  our  own  youth  and  v/e  are  old  ere  we  remember  that 
we  have  made  a fever  and  a labor  of  our  raciest  years.  The 
happiness  promised  by  ambition  dissolves  in  sorrow  just  as 
we  are  about  to  grasp  it.  It  makes  the  same  mistake  con- 
cerning power  that  avarice  makes  concerning  wealth.  She 
begins  by  accumulating  power  as  a means  of  happiness,  but 
she  finishes  by  continuing  to  accumulate  it  as  an  end. 

A thoroughly  ambitious  man  will  never  make  a true  friend, 
for  he  who  makes  ambition  his  god  tramples  upon  everything 
else.  What  cares  he  if  in  his  onward  march  he  treads  upon 
the  hearts  of  those  who  love  him  best.  In  his  eyes  your 
only  value  lies  in  the  use  you  may  be  to  him.  Personally 
one  is  nothing  to  him.  If  you  are  not  rich  or  famous  or 
powerful  enough  to  advance  his  interests,  after  he  has  got 
above  you,  he  cares  no  more  for  you.  It  is  the  nature  of 
ambition  to  make  men  liars  and  cheats,  to  hide  the  truth  in 
their  breast  and  show,  like  jugglers,  another  thing  in  their 
mouth;  to  cut  all  friendships  and  enmities  to  the  measure  of 
their  interests  and  to  make  a good  countenance  without  tlie 
help  of  a good  will.  If,  as  one  says,  “ambition  is  but  a 
shadow’s  shadow,”  it  were  well  to  remember  that  a shadow^ 
wherever  it  passes,  leaves  a track  behind.  It  would  conduce 
to  humility  also  to  remember  of  the  greatest  personages  in 
the  world  when  once  they  are  dead  there  remains  no  monu- 
ment of  their  selfish  ambition  except  the  empty  renown  of 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS. 


347 


their  boasted  name.  It  is  a very  indiscreet  and  troublesome 
ambition  which  cares  so  much  about  fame,  about  what  the 
world  will  say  of  us,  to  be  always  looking  in  the  faces  of 
others  for  approval,  to  be  always  anxious  about  the  effect  of 
what  we  do  or  say,  to  be  always  shouting  to  hear  the  echo  of 
our  own  voices.  To  be  famous.?  What  does  this  profit  a 
year  hence,  when  other  names  sound  louder  than  yours? 

The  desire  to  be  thought  well  of,  to  desire  to  be  thought 
great  in  goodness,  is  in  itself  a noble  quality  of  the  mind 
and  is  often  termed  ambition,  though  it  lacks  the  element  of 
selfishness  which  renders  ambition  so  odious  to  all  right 
minded  people.  It  seems  an  abuse  of  lanp;uage  to  confound 
such  a trait  of  the  mind  with  ambition.  It  were  better  to 
call  it  aspiration,  which  becomes  ambition  only  when  carried 
to  an  extreme,  or  when  the  objects  for  the  attainment  of  which 
ambition  incites  us  to  put  forth  our  utmost  exertions  are  un- 
worthy the  attention  of  sentient  moral  beings,  who  live  not 
only  for  time,  but  for  eternity.  A worthy  aspiration  may  be 
a great  incentive  to  advancement  and  civilization,  a great 
teacher  to  morality  and  wisdom;  but  an  unworthy  ambition, 
unworthy  because  of  its  ends  or  the  zeal  with  which  they  are 
pursued,  is  often  the  instrument  of  crime  and  iniquity,  the 
instigator  of  intemperance  and  rashness. 

Ambition  is  an  excessive  quality,  and  as  such,  is  apt  to 
lead  us  to  the  most  extraordinary  results.  If  our  ambition 
leads  to  excel  or  seek  to  excel  in  that  which  is  good,  the  cur- 
rents it  may  induce  us  to  support  will  be  none  but  legitimate 
ones.  But  if  it  is  stimulated  by  pride,  envy,  avariciousness 
or  vanity,  we  will  confine  our  support  principally  to  the  coun- 
ter currents  of  life  and  thus  leave  behind  us  misery  and  de- 
struction. An  ambition  to  appear  to  be  thought  great  in 
noble  qualities  may  lead  us  to  appear  good;  but  where  we 
only  act  from  ambition  and  not  from  aspiration,  we  are  sub- 


348 


HOW  TO  WIN 


ject  to  fall  at  any  moment,  since  it  were  vain  to  expect  sel- 
fishness to  long  continue  in  any  right  direction. 

If  it  is  our  ambition  to  gain  distinction,  we  will  rob  the 
weak  and  flatter  the  strong  and  become  the  fawning  slave  of 
those  who  are  able  to  foist  us  above  our  betters,  and  deck  us 
with  the  titles  and  honors  of  the  great  without  any  regard  to 
our  own  merit  or  respectability.  But  if  we  are  ambitious  to 
do  good,  without  any  regard  for  the  fame  we  may  win  or  the 
praise  we  may  command,  our  course  will  be  honorable  and 
just,  our  acts  and  deeds  most  worthy  and  good.  When  we 
have  done  with  the  world  the  prints  of  our  worthy  ambition 
will  still  remain  as  a legacy  to  those  who  come  after  us  to 
enjoy  and  reap  the  benefits,  for  which  they  will  revere  our 
memory  and  retain  our  names  in  the  lists  of  those  whose 
labors  have  aided  in  enriching  the  world  and  exalting  the 
general  interests  of  mankind. 

To  be  ambitious  of  true  honor,  of  the  true  glory  and  per- 
fection our  nature  is  the  very  principle  of  virtue;  but  to  be 
ambitious  of  titles,  of  place,  of  ceremonial  respects  and  civil 
pageantry  is  as  vain  and  little  as  the  things  are  which  we 
court.  Much  of  the  advancement  of  the  world  can  be 
traced  to  the  efforts  of  those  who  were  moved  by  ambition  to 
become  famous.  Like  fire,  ambition  is  an  excellent  servant 
but  a poor  master.  As  long  as  it  is  held  subservient  to  in- 
tegrity and  honor  and  made  to  conform  to  the  requirements 
of  justice,  there  is  but  little  danger  of  a man^s  having  too 
much  of  it.  But,  beware!  it  is  such  an  insatiate  passion  that 
you  must  be  continually  on  your  guard  lest  it  speedily  be- 
come the  ruling  principle  of  your  being. 

A true  and  worthy  ambition  will  lead  to  a strong  desire  to 
excel  in  whatever  we  undertake  and  the  man  who  is  care- 
less of  the  results  of  his  labor  is  never  the  man  who  makes 
his  mark  in  the  world  or  whose  influence  is  powerful  for  good 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OP  SUCCESS 


340 


with  his  fellow-men.  In  the  truest  and  highest  sense  a 
man  who  has  an  ambition  which  is  worthy  and  who  wins  a 
success  which  brings  him  the  highest  happiness,  helps  every- 
one around  him  and  it  is  an  utterly  false  idea  of  life  to  re- 
gard a victory  which  puts  the  lives  or  fortunes  of  others  in 
one’s  power  as  necessary  to  true  happiness  or  success  in  life; 
the  truest  success  is  that  victory  which  is  won  over  erratic 
impulses  and  injurious  thoughts;  for  when  the  powers  of  a 
mans  nature  are  trained  to  work  in  a given  direction  with 
most  effect,  the  thoughts  and  impulses  must  of  necessity  be 
under  the  control  of  the  will  and  the  will  must  act  so  that 
the  highest  intellect  and  wisdom  guide  every  act  of  life. 
This  is  the  true  meaning  of  that  text  of  scripture  which  says 
that  “He  who  conquers  himself  is  greater  than  he  that 
taketh  a city.’’ 

The  true  conquest  of  self  lies  in  a full  development  of 
every  power  which  Nature  has  given  to  man,  and  the  work 
the  Chicago  College  of  Psycho-Therapeutics  and  National 
Institute  of  Science  is  not  a work  of  repression,  but  of  teach- 
ing our  students  how  best  to  bring  into  action  those  natural 
powers  which  lie  dormant  in  many,  but  upon  the  develop 
ment  of  which  depends  much  of  the  happiness  and  power  of 
life.  The  proper  field  for  the  use  or  man’s  powers  is  not  on  the 
field  of  battle,  where  the  spoils  of  rich  cities  reward  the  victor; 
but  in  the  arena  of  peaceful  life,  where  trained  intellect 
and  inherent  power  is  rated  at  its  true  worth  and  where  every 
man,  sooner  or  later,  finds  his  proper  place.  There  is  no 
study  so  fascinating  as  the  careful  observation  of  the  power 
of  one  man  over  another  and  it  requires  a deep  knowledge 
of  causes  to  be  able  to  tell  why  one  man  or  one  woman  po  - 
sesses  such  a wonderful  power  to  influence  those  who  come 
in  contact  with  them,  while  others  are  followers  in  every 
way  of  stronger  and  more  positive  minds,  and  seem  to  be 
destitute  (f  power  to  help  themselves. 


3C0 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Here  is  where  the  student  of  Personal  Magnetism  has  the 
advantage  over  those  who  are  ignorant  of  those  finer  forces 
of  human  life  which  are  called  occult;  he  not  only  knows 
the  laws  which  govern  the  generation  of  that  vital  magnet- 
ism, which  lends  power  to  every  word  and  act;  he  is  taught 
how  to  control  and  use  that  wonderful  power  which  gives 
potency  to  all  his  thoughts  and  sends  them  out  on  their  mis- 
sion like  winged  arrows,  straight  to  their  mark.  The  con- 
scious knowledge  of  the  laws  which  govern  this  power  is 
just  as  necessary  to  its  efficient  use,  as  a knowledge  of  the 
laws  of  explosives  is  necessary  to  the  man  who  would  use 
them  on  the  battlefield.  “In  knowledge  there  is  always 
safety;  in  ignorance  there  is  always  danger,”  and  those  who 
are  conscious  of  their  ignorance  and  who  would  replace  it 
by  knowledge,  should  not  trust  to  the  vague  ideas  which 
they  can  glean  from  the  pages  of  newspapers  or  magazines 
Remember,  however  vague  and  indefinite  your  ideas  may  be 
regarding  the  Occult  forces,  there  is  nothing  vague  or  indefi- 
nite in  the  science  itself.  Personal  Magnetism,  Hypnotism 
and  all  the  wonderful  power  which  one  mind  possesses  over 
another  is  governed  by  fixed  and  unvarying  laws,  as  change- 
less in  their  operations  as  those  which  hold  the  planets  in 
their  orbits. 

There  is  no  chance,  in  all  the  operations  of  the  finer  forces 
of  nature  we  trace  the  operations  of  law,  and  he  who  pos- 
sesses the  true  knowledge  of  that  law,  can  look  away  into 
the  realm  of  causes  and  forsee  and  plan  results  which  seem 
like  the  working  of  miracles  to  the  uninitiated.  In  all  the 
domain  of  nature  there  is  no  effect  without  a cause  behind  it; 
be  wise  then,  and  learn  the  causes  of  things  and  aspire  to 
become  an  adept  in  the  knowledge  and  use  of  Occult  Law. 

Do  not  think  that  instruction  is  needless,  or  that  the  way 
is  to  easy  that  you  are  in  no  danger  of  stumbling  if  you 


OR,  SURE  SECRETS  OF  SUCCESS 


351 


essay  it  without  a guide.  Those  who  have  trod  the  path 
before  you,  can  make  your  way  easy  and  Professor  Anderson 
who  is  President  of  the  College,  has  spent  many  years  of 
research  and  experiment,  searching  for  the  hidden  laws  cf 
which  we  speak.  He  is  qualified  by  ripe  experience  and 
natural  fitness  for  the  work,  to  teach  those  who  would  learn 
the  secrets  of  Personal  Magnetism,  and  he  has  gathered 
around  him  assistants  who  are  naturally  fitted  to  be  his 
helpers  in  his  work  for  humanity.  The  influence  of  the 
College  is  extending  year  by  year  and  its  students  are  re- 
ceiving instructions  from  the  Central  College,  who  are  in  far 
distant  lands.  The  College  is  located  in  the  Masonic 
Temple,  a building  which  is  one  of  the  w^onders  of  the 
world.  There  on  the  fifteenth  floor,  away  from  the  bustle  of 
the  street  yet  within  easy  reach,  the  Professor  and  his  corps 
of  assistants  send  out  the  ideas  which  are  destined  to  have 
such  a powerful  influence  on  many  lives.  The  library  be- 
longing to  the  institution  is  unique  in  its  way,  being  devoted 
to  such  works  as  bear  on  human  health,  character  and  devel- 
opment. No  trash  or  fiction  is  found  on  its  shelves;  human 
life  IS  too  short  and  too  full  of  facts  which  men  need  to 
know,  to  waste  time  on  works  of  imagination,  which  crowd 
out  useful  knowledge.  Put  the  library  is  rich  in  volumes  on 
Hygiene,  Phrenology,  Physiology,  Character  building  and 
the  Occult  Sciences.  All  students  have  the  free  use  of  this 
library  during  their  course  and  as  long  afterward  as  they  de- 
sire; it  has  been  selected  by  Professor  Anderson  himself  and 
many  a rare  volume  has  been  gathered  from  collections  in 
distant  cities  to  enrich  it;  it  is  constantly  growing;  new  ad- 
ditions being  made  from  time  to  time. 

There  is  a higher  and  nobler  ambition  than  that  which 
animates  him  who  worships  wealth.  It  is  felt  by  the  student 
ot  Personal  Magnetism  who  feels  his  own  power  to  make 


352 


HOW  TO  WIN, 


Others  happy  grow,  as  his  own^  happiness  grows.  For  a true 
life  must  always  make  for  happiness,  and  that  happiness 
which  is  won  without  giving  others  pain,  is  the  only  kind 
which  is  without  alloy.  The  first  requirement  of  Personal 
Magnetism  is  perfect  health,  and  the  student  who  has  health 
and  the  power  of  Personal  Magnetism,  has  no  need  to  be 
envious  of  the  head  that  wears  a crown.  With  a confident 
feeling  that  we  have  herewith  given  to  the  public  much  mat- 
ter of  vital  importance  and  that  the  gateway  to  a life  of  bliss 
heretofore  unknown  is  opened  to  all  who  may  desire  to  enter, 
we  submit  our  humble  efforts,  with  the  best  of  wishes. 


> 


